CHAPTER 2 

ALTERNATIVES 

 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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Chapter 2 

Alternatives 

INTRODUCTION 

Chapter 2 describes public involvement and resource issues analyzed for environmental effects. This 

chapter describes and shows a comparison of three alternatives selected to be developed in detail, 

including the proposed action and a no action alternative. The interdisciplinary (ID) team developed 

these alternatives to be within the framework of the Forest Plan and applicable federal and state laws. 

The alternatives developed in detail were designed to address or resolve issues identified through public 

involvement and cause and effect analysis. Maps showing activity areas of alternatives considered in 

detail are located in Appendix A. Also described in this chapter are alternatives considered but not 

analyzed in detail. The chapter ends with a comparative synopsis of alternatives considered in detail that 

is based on environmental consequences as disclosed in Chapter 3. 

CHANGES BETWEEN MAY 2009 EA AND THIS FEIS 

Changes include: 

• Minor editorial changes to text in all sections of the chapter; 

• Additional descriptive information on silviculture prescriptions and management of dwarf 

mistletoe; 

• Post and pole sites to be used for fencing of hardwoods and later as personal-use permit areas are 

no longer proposed as an activity for any action alternative; and 

• A suggested alternative that was presented during comments received on the DEIS was 

considered but eliminated from detailed study. 

• Addition of Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and contiguous Potential Wilderness Areas (PWAs), 

Grande Ronde PWA/IRA, and Other Undeveloped Lands as resource issues identified for 

environmental effects analysis. 

• Addition of information on climate change and carbon sequestration 

TRIBAL AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 

The Forest Service encourages public involvement in the identification of issues and development of 

alternatives through a process called scoping. Public involvement for this project began when a 

description of the project was listed in the quarterly 2008 Winter edition of the Umatilla National Forest’s 

Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). On February 22, 2008, letters describing the project were sent on 

to representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Nez Perce 

Tribe and to approximately 115 interested organizations, individuals, and other agencies that have 

indicated an interest in this type of project. The public was invited to comment on this proposed action 

and any potential conflicts posed by this proposed action. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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Four comment letters were received in response to our initial scoping. Two of the letters received 

represented timber industry concerns (American Forest Resource Council, and Boise Building) and two 

represented concerns from environmental organizations (Oregon Wild, and Sierra Club and Hells Canyon 

Preservation Council). All comments were reviewed by the responsible official and ID team. These 

comments were then used to identify issues, alternatives to the proposed action, and to determine the 

extent of environmental analysis necessary for making an informed decision. 

Three responses were received from the public following the 30-day comment period on the May 2009 

EA. All comment letters and attachments were reviewed. Comments received and the Forest Service’s 

responses to those comments are located in Appendix G of this document and are incorporated in the 

project file of this FEIS. 

Cobbler II EA was listed in the 2009 Fall edition of the Umatilla National Forest’s SOPA. A scoping 

letter was mailed on November 20, 2009 with a request for comments to be made by December 20, 2009. 

Six (6) responses were received and are incorporated in the project file of this FEIS. 

Subsequent to the scoping letter of December 20, 2009 the Forest Service then decided to prepare an 

environmental impact statement (EIS). On February 5, 2010 the Federal Register published a notice of 

intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project. A scoping 

letter for the EIS was sent to the mailing list of interested parties, including those who had previously 

commented on the Cobbler EA. Interested parties included federal, state, and local government agencies, 

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Indian Tribe, various environmental 

organizations, and interested individuals (see project file for mailing list). Five (5) responses were 

received, reviewed, and incorporated in the project file. 

A 45-day comment period for Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project DEIS was provided for 

interested and affected publics (mailing list, project file). Letters requesting comments were mailed on 

April 20, 2010. A notice of availability (NOA) was published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2010. 

Comments were accepted until June 14, 2010. 

A legal notice, in the East Oregonian, our newspaper of record, to request comments was published on 

May 2, 2010. The Forest Service received eight (8) responses during the 45-day comment period. All 

correspondence was reviewed and Forest Service responses to those comments are located in Appendix I 

of this document. All correspondence received is kept in the project file and is available for review at the 

district office in Walla Walla, Washington. 

ISSUE IDENTIFICATION 

In addition to issues identified through public response, the ID team considered potential issues not 

identified by the public. This was done by first identifying all the activities connected to accomplishing 

the proposed action. Then the ID team identified potential cause and effect relationships associated with 

each type of action that could result in resource conflicts, relying in part on public comments from 

previous, similar projects. The ID team also considered comments regarding potential conflicts or issues, 

and comments regarding best available science for those issues. Additional resource issues analyzed for 

environmental effects in Cobbler II FEIS include the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, potential wilderness 

areas (PWAs), inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) and other undeveloped lands. 

The ID team recommended, and the responsible official approved, resource issues discussed below for 

analysis of environmental effects for each alternative analyzed in detail. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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 Elk Habitat – Comments from the public after scoping expressed concerns about restoring big game 

habitat and not decreasing any existing habitat. The majority of proposed commercial thinning would 

occur in Forest Plan management area allocations C4-Wildlife Habitat, and E2-Timber Big Game. 

Proposed harvest could decrease the density of canopy cover converting satisfactory1 cover to 

marginal2 cover and it could reduce the effectiveness of security areas when screening vegetation is 

removed. In C4, the Forest Plan requires a minimum of 15 percent of the area is to be managed as 

satisfactory cover (20 percent is desirable), and in E2 a minimum of 10 percent of the area is to be 

managed as satisfactory cover. For this project no satisfactory cover reducing activities were 

proposed for management area C4, because satisfactory big game cover is currently meeting the 

Forest Plan standard of 15 percent. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Acres and percent of satisfactory cover 

• Acres of total cover (marginal plus satisfactory) reduced 

• Acres of hiding cover reduced through non-commercial thinning 

• Relative change of forage (quality and quantity) 

• Miles of closed roads used 

 Old Forest Habitat –Past timber harvest, other management actions, and insect/disease epidemics 

have reduced the amount and connectedness of old forest stands. Proposed harvest and fuels 

treatments (including prescribed burning) would have the potential to affect this habitat type in the 

project planning area. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Acres of old forest multi-story (OFMS) changed to old forest single story (OFSS) 

• Acres of thinning within old forest connective corridors 

• Large tree habitat removed (>21 inches DBH trees and snags) 

 Soil Resources – Soil disturbance would occur with implementation of proposed activities that 

require ground based equipment, especially where mechanical fuels treatment follows mechanical 

thinning. Ground based activities could affect soil productivity by compacting soils and possibly 

cause erosion. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Total acres of detrimental soil condition (DSC) after activities 

 Hydrology/Water Quality – Implementation of proposed activities has the potential to affect 

hydrologic function, water quality, and water yield. These effects could occur due to changes in road 

systems and ground disturbance associated with harvest, road construction, road use, prescribed 

burning, and reductions in live tree cover associated with harvest and prescribed fire use. 

 

1

Satisfactory cover – A stand of coniferous trees 40 or more feet tall with an average canopy closure equal to or 

more than 70 percent. Umatilla Forest Plan defines it as cover used by animals to ameliorate the effect of weather. 

2 Marginal cover – A stand of coniferous trees 10 or more feet tall with an average canopy closure equal to or more 

than 40 percent but less than 70 percent and generally capable of obscuring at least 90 percent of a standing elk from 

the view of humans at a distance of 200 feet. 
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Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Hydrologic Function and Condition 

o road density 

o miles of road in RHCAs 

• Water Quality 

o water temperature 

o sediment 

• Water Yield 

o Equivalent Treatment Acre3 (ETA) Model, - percent by subwatershed 

 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TES)/Management Indicator Species (MIS) Fish 

Habitat - Habitat quantity and/or quality for some or all of the listed fish species and sensitive fish 

species in the Grande Ronde and Wenaha Watersheds may be directly or indirectly affected by 

changes in habitat characteristics. Proposed and related activities have the potential to affect fish 

habitat through increased sediment delivery, alterations to stream shade, or large wood inputs, and/or 

through use of petroleum products in or near Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs).

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• pool frequency 

• water chemistry 

temperature 

sediment 

chemicals/contamination 

• large woody debris 

• stream channel conditions 

bank stability 

lower bank angle 

substrate 

• change in peak or base flows 

• increase in drainage network 

• road density and location 

 Vegetation -The project planning area has been altered from historical conditions due to fire 

suppression and other past forest management practices. These factors have caused forest stands in 

the project planning area to be outside of their historical range of variability (HRV) in the following 

ways: species composition, including the occurrence of hardwoods; forest stand structure, especially 

stands with single layers and those dominated by large trees; forest stand density; and the amount and 

maturity of shrubby vegetation. Currently, remaining mature lodgepole pine stands are at the age 

where they are highly susceptible to bark beetle mortality. Concerns have also been expressed by 

some respondents about logging in higher elevation mixed conifer moist forest types. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Improvement of species composition: 

o Late seral ingrowth reduced in stands currently dominated by early seral species 

 (acres) 

o Diseased and damaged mixed conifer stands regenerated to young trees of primarily 

 early seral species (acres). 

o Hardwood species fenced and/or released from encroaching conifers (acres) 

o Creation of Special Interest area at Elk Flats Meadow to treat existing aspen (acres) 

 

3

 Equivalent Treatment Acres (ETA) model is equivalent to the Equivalent Clearcut Acre (ECA) model and 

calculates percent disturbance with the same inputs and with the same formulas. 
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• Improvement of forest stand structures: 

o Stands changed from outside structural class HRV to within HRV (acres) 

o Late seral ingrowth reduced in stands currently dominated by trees > 21inches DBH 

 (acres) 

• Improvement of forest stand densities: 

o Stands in which the proportion of early seral species is increased and stand density is 

reduced from overstocked to recommended levels (acres) 

• Provision of wood products: 

o High-risk lodgepole pine stands harvested (acres) 

 Fuels - Fire Return Intervals and Crown Fire Potential – Concerns have been expressed by the 

public during scoping on how fuel management should occur and at what levels. Cobbler II project 

planning area is outside historical fire return intervals and could experience higher levels of risk to 

loss from uncharacteristic wildfire intensity. It is currently experiencing Condition Class4 changes 

that are resulting in moving the area further away from historical ranges. Some opponents believe 

that fuel reduction should proceed cautiously while moving toward ecosystem sustainability. They 

also believe that fuel objectives can be met by allowing natural fire regimes to operate, or by leaving 

significant areas untreated when fuel reduction projects are planned. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Acres treated within fire regimes of high departure from historical fire return intervals 

 (condition Class 3) 

• Acres treated within fire regimes of moderate departure from historical fire return intervals 

 (condition Class 2) 

• Acres treated with extreme, very high, and high crown fire potential 

 Air Quality – Fuel treatment activities and prescribed fire could temporarily decrease air quality in 

sites down wind of the project area and could temporarily place smoke in mandatory Class I areas. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Expected total particulate emissions (PM2.5) 

• Duration and timing of emissions 

• Communities potentially affected 

• Mandatory Class I areas potentially affected 

 Invasive Plant Species (Noxious Weeds) and Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TES) Plant 

Species – Timber harvest and related activities disturb soil and have the potential to affect TES plants 

and habitat. Disturbed soil provides an ideal opportunity for weed seed to germinate. Vehicles, 

people, and animals transport noxious weed seed that could become established. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Acres of invasive plant species by District treatment priority, that have been previously 

mapped within harvest units and along haul routes, and potential risk from ground disturbance 

from proposed activities. 

• Biological determination of effects to TES Plant Species 

 Wildlife Habitat - Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TES) Terrestrial Species, 

Management Indicator Species (MIS), Landbirds, and Dead Wood – Proposed project activities 

(timber harvest, fuels treatments, landscape prescribed fire, etc.) could affect several habitat types in 

 

4

 Fire Regime Condition Class describes the deviation from natural fire regimes in terms of fire return interval and 

vegetative changes from historical composition and density (Hann and Bunnell, 2001). 
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the project planning area. The Forest Plan has selected management indicator species to represent 

animals associated with major habitat types. Habitat requirement of these indicator species are 

presumed to represent those of a larger group of wildlife species. Concerns regarding impacts to 

wolfs, lynx, wolverines, and MIS species was expressed by respondents. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• TES

o Suitable Canada lynx habitat affected (acres)

o White-headed woodpecker habitat affected (acres)

• Management Indicator Species 

o American marten habitat affected (acres) 

o Pileated woodpecker nesting habitat affected (acres) 

o Northern three-toed woodpecker habitat affected (acres) 

o All primary excavators – snag density affected 

 Transportation System –During project activity, approximately 50 miles of open system roads, 1.5 

miles of seasonally opened roads, about 40 miles of gated closed system roads would be opened, and 

approximately 0.25 miles of new system road would be constructed and would become a closed 

system road after project activity. Approximately 0.2 miles of temporary road would be constructed 

and decommissioned after project use. Concerns were expressed by the public of using closed system 

roads, because roads create a major impact on wildlife and are a major cause of erosion. Another 

commenter expressed a preference for temporary roads as opposed to new road construction. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Miles of new road construction and temporary road construction

• Changes to District Motorized Access and Travel Management (ATM) plan

 Range – There is approximately 23,500 acres of the Eden C&H Allotment and 125 acres of the North 

End C&H Allotment with the project planning area. Project activities such as timber harvest, activity 

fuels treatments, and landscape prescribed fire have the potential to affect pasture rotations, transitory 

forage, or compromise the integrity of range improvements necessary for management of rangeland 

resources. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Changes to permittee access 

• Livestock distribution 

 Visuals/Scenery– Activities that include timber harvest and prescribed fire may change the visual 

characteristics and scenery of the area. Four Forest Plan management areas in the project planning 

area (A4, A7, A8, and A9) have visual quality objectives such as, preservation, retention, partial 

retention and modification. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Consistency with Forest Plan standards and guidelines – Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) 

 Wild and Scenic River Area – Grande Ronde – Cobbler II project planning area is located in the 

Oregon portion of the Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River. The Wild and Scenic River corridor is a 

quarter mile wide and is designated as management area A7 – Wild and Scenic River in the Forest 

Plan. The upper slopes of the canyon are designated as management area A8 – Scenic Area. The 

Grande Ronde IRA is also located within this portion of the project planning area. Landscape 

prescribed fire is the only activity proposed within the Wild and Scenic River corridor. All actions 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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must follow guidelines established by the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers Final Management 

Plan/EA (December 1993). 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Effects to outstanding and remarkable Wild and Scenic River values 

• Consistency with Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers Final Management Plan/EA

 Recreation –A wide variety of recreational activities occur in the project planning area including, 

mushroom gathering, big game hunting and camping mostly associated with hunting, and 

snowmobiling. Proposed project activities such as timber felling, yarding, hauling road use 

restrictions, fuel treatments, and danger tree removal could affect public safety, recreation use 

especially hunter camps, and access to forest roads. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Increase or decrease in recreational access and use

• Effects to dispersed hunter camps 

 Economics – The economic returns from commercially harvested wood and woody biomass products 

would affect local and regional economies. Economic benefits and the financial efficiency to be 

derived from the proposed harvest will be evaluated. Feedback from scoping encouraged considering 

mechanical thinning first, when economically possible, before the use of fire alone or combined with 

mechanical treatment. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Alternative efficiency – present net value (PNV) 

• Benefits to regional economy – number of jobs 

• Sale viability – value above base rates 

 Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and Contiguous Potential Wilderness Areas5 (PWAs)–No project 

activities are proposed to occur within the designated wilderness. Concern has been expressed 

regarding undeveloped areas adjacent to Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Untrammeled, Undeveloped, and Natural 

• Solitude and remoteness 

• Roadless area characteristics (features that are often present in and characterize inventoried 

roadless areas) as identified in the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (36 CFR §294.11) 

o High quality or undisturbed soil, water, and air 

o Sources of public drinking water 

o Diversity of plant and animal communities 

o Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for 

those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land 

o Primitive, semi-primitive, non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of 

dispersed recreation 

o Reference landscapes 

o Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality 

o Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites and (we already take care of this one 

because we avoid all sites) 

o Other locally identified unique characteristics 

• Change in acres of inventoried PWAs 

 

5

 The District has conducted a site-specific potential wilderness inventory for the Cobbler II project. Methodology, 

results and maps of this inventory are located in Appendix H of this document. 
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 Grand Ronde Potential Wilderness Area and Inventoried Roadless Area (PWA/IRA) - The 

Grande Ronde IRA is within the Grande Ronde PWA. Proposed activities for within this area include 

landscape prescribed fire, and less than an acre of hardwood restoration (girdling of trees, and 

fencing) and removal of danger trees with an imminent risk failure potential. Concern has been 

expressed regarding effects from project implementation to the roadless characteristics of these areas. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Roadless area characteristics (features that are often present in and characterize inventoried 

roadless areas) as identified in the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (36 CFR §294.11) 

o High quality or undisturbed soil, water, and air 

o Sources of public drinking water 

o Diversity of plant and animal communities 

o Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for 

those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land 

o Primitive, semi-primitive, non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of 

dispersed recreation 

o Reference landscapes 

o Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality 

o Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites and (we already take care of this one 

because we avoid all sites) 

o Other locally identified unique characteristics 

• Changes in acres of inventoried PWAs 

 Other Undeveloped Lands – There are areas on land within the project planning area that have no 

history of harvest activity; do not contain forest roads; and are not classified as a potential wilderness 

area, inventoried roadless area, roadless area, or a designated wilderness area. Concern has been 

expressed as to the effects to these undeveloped lands from implementation of proposed activities. 

Differences in alternatives would be displayed by: 

• Intrinsic physical and biological resources, and social values (soil, water, wildlife, fisheries, etc.) 

• Changes in acres of other undeveloped lands 

• Change in size class of undeveloped lands 

Issues Recommended for Alternative Development – Key Issues

Most of the issues carried through the analysis can be resolved through project design, mitigation, or the 

required no action alternative. However, two issues stood out as needing an alternative to the proposed 

action in order to be resolved (40 CFR 1500.4 (g), FSH 1909.15, 12.4). The following issues are

considered key6 issues (or significant issues) and were used in developing an action alternative to the 

proposed action: 

 Elk Habitat 

 Old Forest Habitat 

 

6

 Key issues are defined as “resources or other values that drive the development of an alternative, may be adversely 

affected by the proposed action, or unresolved conflicts regarding alternative uses of available resources” {NEPA 

sec. 102(2) (E)}. 
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Other Public Comments Received 

Concerns regarding climate change and carbon sequestration have been presented by some respondents. 

Although we did not treat climate change and carbon sequestration as an issue and no indicators were 

established for comparing potential climate change between alternative, a climate change discussion is 

presented in Chapter 3 of this document. The context of this climate change discussion is that Cobbler II 

project planning area is too small for a direct evaluation of potential climate change effects caused by the 

proposed actions. Our current understanding of climate science suggests it is difficult to establish a 

cause-and-effect relationship between proposed actions and climate change at a project scale. The 

information in Chapter 3 discloses climate change with respect to silvicultural management, HRV, and 

climate change adaptation strategies and forest vegetation activities. Information on forest carbon 

analysis is also included. 

Another commenter questioned why the project was not analyzed using the Healthy Forest Restoration 

Act (HFRA). There are several factors in determining whether a project meets the definition of 

“authorized” or “covered” by the HFRA. The town of Troy and the Promise, Eden and Bartlett Bench 

areas are listed as Priority Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas within the Wallowa County Community 

Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The Cobbler II project planning area is approximately 5 miles to the 

west of these communities. The Wallowa County CWPP defines strategies and identifies projects that 

should occur within these WUI areas, but it does not address areas that lie outside of WUI boundaries. 

Although possible, it is unlikely that fuels treatments that occur within the Cobbler II project planning 

area would affect a fast moving wildfire burning in the direction of these priority areas. 

RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES 

Alternatives for this project were designed to express a range of possible actions. The ID team developed 

the range of alternatives, project design features, and mitigation measures presented in this chapter based 

on the purpose and need for action described in Chapter 1 of this document. 

An adequate range of alternatives includes all reasonable alternatives, is one that fully meets the purpose 

and need, and addresses major issues. An alternative to the proposed action must; (1) address one or 

more major issues; and (2) meets the purpose and need identified for the project. An action alternative 

that does not meet both criteria may be eliminated from detailed study. In total ten alternatives were 

considered, seven were eliminated from detailed study and three were analyzed in detail. 

Other influences considered when developing alternatives included: Forest Plan goals and objectives, 

Forest Plan standards and guidelines, consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act, and 

other federal and state laws and regulations. 

Implementation of management activities, described in all action alternatives, is dependent upon funding 

being available to accomplish them. The USDA Forest Service budget is congressionally mandated by 

line item. The Forest Service does not have the option to change budget allocations. The line item 

mandate process requires personnel to “charge as worked” and “work as funded.” 

The ID team recommended and the responsible official approved two action alternatives in addition to a 

no action alternative. 
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ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL 

Alternative A – No Action 

PURPOSE AND DESIGN:

• No new management activities are proposed to occur. 

• Current biological and physical processes would be allowed to continue along their present path 

and serve as a baseline to compare effects. 

DESCRIPTION: 

With implementation of this alternative, all activities identified in the proposed action would not be 

approved to occur in Cobbler II project planning area. Commercial thinning and fuel treatments for 

activity and natural fuels would not be authorized. There would be no road construction or removal of 

danger trees. Landscape prescribed fire, hardwood and meadow restoration, and non-commercial 

thinning would not occur. There would be no amendment to the Forest Plan to allow for management to 

maintain and or enhance existing aspen stands in Elk Flats Meadow and adjacent areas. 

Previously approved ongoing activities such as domestic cattle grazing, fire protection, firewood cutting, 

recreation, and road maintenance would continue. This alternative would allow timber stands, identified 

at this time as needing treatment, to progress through natural successional processes at their own rate. 

Fuels would not be treated to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire intensity to allow for a safer 

environment for fire-fighting personnel during fire suppression. 

Alternative B – Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative) 

PURPOSE AND DESIGN:

Alternative B is the proposed action and preferred alternative. Alternative B uses a combination of 

treatments to increase ecosystem sustainability in the project planning area and meet the identified 

purpose and need for action stated in Chapter 1 of this document, while providing sawlogs and wood fiber 

products for utilization by local and regional industry. 

This alternative is designed to: 

• Move upland forests toward historical range of variability for species composition, structural 

diversity, and stocking densities. 

• Reduce fuel loads (both ground and ladder fuels), restore historical fuel patterns and fire regimes, 

and modify the intensity and resulting fire behavior to allow for safer fire suppression efforts 

• Reduce risk of personal injury by removing danger trees along trailheads and haul routes used for 

timber sale activity. 

• Protect and enhance vegetative conditions of hardwoods by increasing vigor of existing stands. 

• Influence stocking levels, growth, health, and vigor of plantations by implementing noncommercial thinning. 

• Amend the Forest Plan to reallocate management area designations in and around Elk Flats 

Meadow area to maintain and or enhance existing aspen, which have declined, and encourage 

aspen and other hardwood regeneration in this area. 
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DESCRIPTION: 

TIMBER HARVEST AND FUELS TREATMENTS

Commercially harvest approximately 2,500 acres. In some treatment units timber harvest would include 

the removal of sawlogs and small diameter trees in the 3-9 inch DBH range, which would be used as a 

woody biomass product. In some treatment units only woody biomass products would be removed. 

Harvest objectives would vary by stand condition and fire management objectives. Some stands would be 

thinned to maintain tree growth and vigor and in other stands to reduce stand density to a level that would 

not support a crown fire (stands near the rim of the Grande Ronde canyon) and other stands would be 

thinned to reduce small ladder fuels so that torching would not cause the fire to move into tree crowns. 

Treatments would tend to favor leaving early seral tree species such as ponderosa pine and western larch. 

Commercial thinning is the primary stand prescription to be used. Shelterwood and seed-tree 

prescriptions would be used in decadent stands where thinning would not restore growth or vigor, and in 

lodgepole pine stands where the current age of the lodgepole stand is highly susceptible to attack by 

mountain pine beetle. 

Silviculture Prescriptions

Thinning in western inland conifers on montane sites is justifiably widely practiced, as on many sites too 

many trees naturally seed in for them to grow well, causing stress as they compete for resources. 

Thinning not only enhances growth but can reduce susceptibility to insects such as budworm and bark 

beetles. The wide variety of species on many montane sites affords the possibility of species selection. 

Shelterwood and seed-tree harvest have also been used successfully in montane forests. These 

regeneration harvest methods favor early successional tree species in the subsequent stand (Burns 1989). 

Treatment prescriptions need to follow historical fire regimes, using local plant associations (Noss et al. 

2006). 

The type of commercial thinning that would be used in the Cobbler II project is low thinning. In low 

thinning, the objective is to release the dominant and codominant trees by removing the lower crown 

classes. Low thinning harvest removes suppressed (over-topped), dying, and low-intermediate crown 

classes, and in some cases where lower residual stocking levels are desirable, additional trees from the 

intermediate crown class and some trees from the codominant crown class may be removed (Daniel et al. 

1979, Fettig et al. 2007). Large trees are left to occupy the site (Graham et al. 1999). 

Low thinning is proposed as the most appropriate type of thinning practice for management in restoration 

treatments. Treating surface fuels, reducing ladder fuels, and opening overstory canopies generally 

increase resilience to fire. Retention of large, fire-resistant trees is also important to the forest (Brown et 

al. 2004). Low thinnings can create various stand structures and compositions, depending on the forest 

type and biophysical setting (Graham et al. 1999). 

The following silviculture practices can be used to mimic certain aspects of disturbance processes: 

Thinning: Low intensity surface fires in multi-layered ponderosa pine forest, or in mixed forest of 

ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir/true fir; budworm damage in dense, even-aged, mixed-conifer forest; low 

intensity wildfire in areas with a mixed severity fire regime. This method mimics mortality caused by 

inter-tree competition or surface fires and concentrates site growth potential on dominant trees. 

Shelterwood or Seed-Tree Cutting: Bark beetle outbreaks in mature, even-aged, mixed-species forest; 

mixed severity wildfire in mature, mixed-species forest; avalanche chutes on steep slopes in the subalpine 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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zone (emulated by the strip variant of the shelterwood cutting method); Douglas-fir tussock moth 

defoliation in mixed-conifer forest (Powell 2000). 

Silviculture methods that responded to the purpose and need were selected. Methods include intermediate 

harvest, even-aged harvest, and a small amount (60 acres) of fuels treatment without material removal. If 

there would be significant benefits to the health of the remaining stand, trees larger than 21 inches DBH 

were considered for removal only from moist forest stands, where stands are within their historical range 

of variability (HRV). Danger trees 21 inches and greater in either moist or dry forest stands would be 

felled for safety concerns. 

Commercial Thinning (HITH) – 1,890 acres: An intermediate cutting prescription that usually increases 

crown base height (CBH) (vertical distance to the live crown), reduces crown bulk density (CBD) 

(density of fuels in the canopy) and stimulates growth and development of residual stands. Trees of 9 

inch plus DBH would be removed. Excess small material would be treated by removal, mastication, or 

burning. This prescription leaves a fully stocked stand. Trees > 21 inches DBH would not be cut unless 

necessary for safety (danger trees). 

Commercial thinning in Big Hole Viewpoint - A9 Management Area – 15 acres: The stand that 

incorporates the Big Hole Viewpoint, management area A9-Special Interest Area, would be commercially 

thinned followed by mechanical fuels treatment. Approximately 15 acres are classified as A9 in the 40 

acre stand (Unit 44). The objective of the thinning in the A9 area would be to remove smaller trees from 

around the large trees, making the stand more visually appealing and highlighting the large tree boles. 

Excess small material would be treated by removal, mastication, or burning. Danger trees would be 

removed. Silvicultural and fuel treatment prescriptions would be designed for a retention visual quality 

objective. 

Commercial Thinning with Non-commercial thinning (HITH/NCT) – 230 acres: Small material cutting 

for ladder fuel reduction, with incidental cutting of trees > 9 inches DBH, which together would increase 

CBH and reduce CBD. Trees from 3 inches to 9 inches DBH would be cut, leaving the larger trees. The 

stand would remain fully stocked. Occasional trees > 9 inches DBH would be cut to allow movement of 

machinery through the stand. Trees > 21 inches DBH would not be cut unless necessary for safety 

(danger trees). Trees cut would be harvested where economically feasible, except on approximately 60 

acres that are too steep for harvest equipment. 

Commercial Thinning with Seed-Tree Cut (HITH/HSST) – 100 acres: Intermediate harvest mixed with 

even-aged regeneration harvest. This prescription would be used in mature stands of lodgepole pine with 

a component of western larch. Areas that are mostly lodgepole pine would be seed-tree cut patches. In 

these patches most of the trees would be harvested, leaving 6 to 12 residual mature trees per acre. Trees >

21 inches DBH infected with moderate levels of dwarf mistletoe, and danger trees would be cut. Areas 

that have more healthy larch trees would be the commercial thinning patches. In these patches, the 

density of trees would be reduced to a prescribed recommended basal area per acre. Excess small 

material would be treated by removal, mastication, or burning. The resulting stand would be patchy with 

some areas remaining fully stocked and some areas becoming created openings. The openings would be 

reforested by natural regeneration or by planting. 

Shelterwood Seed Cut with Commercial Thinning (HSSW/HITH) – 30 acres: Even-aged regeneration 

harvest mixed with intermediate harvest. Prescribed in a stand where most of the acres contain 

overstocked healthy mature trees, but some of the acres contain predominantly diseased and/or damaged 

trees. In areas that are mostly in poor condition, the Shelterwood Seed Cut patches, most of the trees 

would be harvested, leaving 12 to 20 residual mature trees per acre. Trees > 21 inches DBH infected with 

moderate levels of dwarf mistletoe, and danger trees, would be cut. The openings would be reforested by 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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planting. In areas that have mostly healthy trees, commercial thinning patches, the density of trees would 

be reduced to a prescribed basal area per acre. Excess small material would be treated by removal, 

mastication, or burning. 

Shelterwood or Seed-Tree Cut (HSSW/HSST) – 250 acres: Even-aged regeneration harvest with residual 

trees. It is prescribed in moist upland forest stands only. Most trees in the stand would be harvested. The 

stand would become a created opening. Depending on the number of appropriate leave trees found in the 

area, there would be 12 to 20 mature residual trees (shelterwood) or 6 to 12 mature residual trees (seedtrees) left. Trees > 21 inches DBH that are danger trees or are infected with moderate levels of dwarf 

mistletoe would be cut. Excess small material would be treated by removal, mastication, or burning. 

Openings would be reforested by planting. 

Management of Dwarf Mistletoe, Including Harvest of Trees >21 inches DBH

Regeneration prescriptions (shelterwood or seed-tree cuts) are recommended for some stands in Moist 

Upland Forest PVGs, described below in the section on Forest Stand Types Proposed for Harvest and 

Fuels Treatment. These types of stands were not found in Dry Upland Forest PVGs. In units with 

regeneration prescriptions, if there would be significant benefits to the health of the remaining stand, trees 

larger than 21 inches DBH were considered for removal. Trees infected with dwarf mistletoe would be 

likely to infect the regeneration that is planted or germinates underneath them. The dwarf mistletoe of 

primary concern in the Cobbler II project planning area is in western larch. The objective of harvesting 

the infected trees is to prevent creating a new stand where most of the young trees are infected with high 

levels of mistletoe, which may not be within historical conditions. A Forest Plan amendment is not 

needed to harvest these trees, because the Moist Upland Forest PVG is within the historical range of 

variability (HRV) for old forest (see Appendix F). 

Following recommendations made by the Forest Pathologist (reports in the project file: Spiegel and 

Schmitt 2008 and 2009), trees that have moderate levels of infection (rating levels 3 and 4) would be 

removed from units that have shelterwood or seed-tree prescriptions. Trees with lower levels are not 

likely to be a source of a lot of infection to the regenerated stand below, and trees with higher levels are 

likely to die before they cause a lot of infection. After review of field information and stand exam data 

gathered on these stands, it is estimated that the number of diseased trees > 21 inches DBH that would 

need to be cut in order to avoid infecting the newly regenerated stands with high levels of dwarf mistletoe 

is between 10 and 50 trees. None of the trees are in stands classified as old forest structure. The number 

of acres from which diseased trees (infected with dwarf mistletoe) > 21 inches DBH could be harvested is 

350 (only in moist forest). This is approximately 1 percent of the total project planning area (34,000 

acres) and less than 2 percent of the 25,400 acres in the project planning area where timber harvest is 

scheduled. 

In remaining harvest units, thinning is prescribed, and endemic levels of dwarf mistletoe are expected to 

remain after harvest. This proposed management is consistent with scientific references in a new 

comprehensive set of references related to disease treatments in mixed conifer forests (Schmitt 2010): 

 “Surviving residuals will spread dwarf mistletoe, if infected, to regeneration” (Wicker and Leaphart 

1976). “Because of the impacts associated with dwarf mistletoes and the ease of spread of infection 

between adjacent host trees and from overstory trees to understory hosts, a variety of sanitation and 

species manipulation strategies have been used in managed forests to eradicate or lessen infection 

intensity and incidence; primarily using silviculture and prescribed fire. In most cases, wildlife resource 

values need to be considered and specific strategies that address that resource included (Parks et al. 1999; 

Muir and Geils 2002). Leaving endemic levels of infection which are within the historic range of 

variability (HRV) would usually meet this objective. In these cases, some broomed trees may be retained 

within the perimeter of treated stands. These might be isolated from treated areas or protected from 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-14 

prescribed fire using a variety of strategies. In other cases, infected stands may be left over the landscape 

while others are treated.” 

Forest Stand Types Proposed for Harvest and Fuels Treatment

Commercial Thinning (HITH) - intermediate harvest 

In moderately to densely stocked stands of mixed species composition which have overstory trees 

primarily in the 9 inch to 20.9 inch DBH classes, the objectives would be to maintain the mixed species 

composition, rather than allow it to progress further to dominance by late seral species, and to bring the 

stand densities within suggested stocking levels. It is unlikely that these stands would withstand low 

intensity fire in the foreseeable future because they have a significant stand component of late seral 

species which are not old enough to have developed thick bark. 

In moderately to densely stocked stands dominated by early seral species, western larch and ponderosa 

pine, the objectives would be to maintain western larch and ponderosa pine as a dominant stand 

component, to bring the stand densities within suggested stocking levels for the purpose of maintaining or 

increasing resistance to environmental stresses, and to prepare the stands to withstand low intensity fire in 

the future. 

In moderately to densely stocked stands of mixed species composition which have overstory trees 

frequently in the 21 inch to 48 inch DBH and greater size classes, the objectives would be to maintain the 

large overstory trees. This would be accomplished by reducing stocking levels in the seedling through 

lower tree size classes (less than 1 inch DBH through 20.9 inches DBH) in order to reduce surface and 

ladder fuels and bring the stand densities within suggested stocking levels for the plant associations. 

These stands have old trees in a mix of early and late seral species in the overstory, and should be better 

able to withstand low intensity fire after treatment. Thinning would also help maintain the mixed species 

composition, rather than allow it to progress further to dominance by late seral species (there are areas of 

dense late seral seedlings in the understory of these stands). These large-tree dominated stands are 

relatively common on the local landscape, but, according to information from ICBEMP, over the entire 

Columbia River Basin they are much rarer than they were before European settlement. “The areal extent 

of old-forest multi-story structures declined substantially in areas where long fire-return intervals 

typically would have maintained them. The areal extent of old-forest single-story structures declined 

substantially within areas where short fire-return intervals typically would have maintained them (Quigley 

et al. 1996). 

Non-Commercial Thinning (NCT) - intermediate harvest and fuels treatment

In densely stocked young stands, some of which are plantations, the objectives are to enhance growth and 

vigor and reduce excess fuel loads. The majority of trees in these stands are below 9 inches DBH. The 

term non-commercial refers to these small size classes which would not produce boards from saw timber, 

although the material from the stands may be sold as biomass material. 

Shelterwood and seed cuts (HSSW/HSST) - even-aged harvest

This stand regeneration method is prescribed for stands primarily stocked with suppressed, damaged, and 

diseased trees with low stocking of healthy trees. Enough trees are expected to remain after harvest to 

provide some protection from sun and wind to the new seedlings that would be planted or seeded in 

naturally. 

Seed-tree cuts (HSST) - even-aged harvest

This stand regeneration method is prescribed for stands with very few healthy trees. Enough trees are 

expected to remain after harvest to provide some seed, but not to provide substantial protection to the new 

stand. 
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Reforestation

The units proposed for regeneration harvest can be reforested within 5 years. Units where lodgepole pine 

is the major species would be prescribed for natural regeneration (165 acres). Units that are not 

dominated by lodgepole pine would be planted (175 acres). The following table shows planting 

recommendations by seedling density and species composition. 

Table 2-1 Planting Recommendations for Cobbler II Project Planning Area 

Plant Associations 

Seedling 

Density1

Species Composition of 

Planting Mix (Percent)2

TPA Spacing PP WL LP DF WP GF ES SF 

Grand fir/twinflower, grand 

fir/queencup beadlily 222 14 feet 20 40 NR 25 15 NR NR NR 

1

Seedling density recommendations are expressed as both a trees per acre (TPA) figure and its corresponding 

square-spacing value, in feet. Actual planting amounts might be slightly higher than these values to compensate 

for expected seedling mortality. 

2

 Species composition of planting mix recommendations are based on Powell (2002), and consultation with Bill 

Collar, reforestation specialist, Walla Walla Ranger District. Column heading codes are: PP: ponderosa pine; 

WL: western larch; LP: lodgepole pine; DF: Douglas-fir; WP: western white pine; GF: grand fir; ES: Engelmann 

spruce; SF: subalpine fir. NR = Natural Regeneration, showing tree species expected to establish without 

planting, were not included in the planting mix but they could be used if seed sources for the recommended 

species are in short supply. 

Natural regeneration in lodgepole pine stands

The probability of obtaining natural regeneration in the lodgepole pine stands harvested in Cobbler II 

project planning area would depend on the spatial distribution of seed trees and whether cone (seed) crops 

are actually produced while seedbeds are receptive. Lodgepole pine has a low percentage of closed cones 

(serotiny) in the Blue Mountains, and it is a prolific seed producer and good seed crops occur frequently. 

Both western larch, where available and not infected with specified levels of dwarf mistletoe, and 

lodgepole pine seed trees will be left on the harvest units. 

Diseased Large Tree Removal

Following recommendations from the Forest Pathologist (reports in the project file: Spiegel and Schmitt 

2008 and 2009), trees that have moderate levels of infection (rating levels 3 and 4) would be removed, 

only in units that have shelterwood or seed-tree prescriptions. Trees with lower levels are not likely to be 

a source of a lot of infection to the regenerated stand below, and trees with higher levels are likely to die 

before they cause a lot of infection. After review of field information and stand exam data gathered on 

the stands to be harvested with regeneration prescriptions (shelterwood and seed-tree prescriptions), it is 

estimated that the number of diseased trees > 21 inches DBH that would need to be cut in order to avoid 

infecting the newly regenerated stands with high levels of dwarf mistletoe is between 10 and 50 trees 

(none of the trees are in stands classified as old forest structure). The number of acres from which 

diseased trees (infected with dwarf mistletoe) > 21 inches DBH could be harvested is 350 (only in moist 

forest). This is approximately 1 percent of the total planning area (34,000 acres) and less than 2 percent 

of the 25,400 acres in the planning area where timber harvest is scheduled. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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Methods of Harvest

Harvest methods would include conventional ground based (approximately 380 acres) and using a 

harvester/forwarder (approximately 1,830 acres). Conventional ground based harvesting utilizes a tractor 

or skidder that would operate on designated trails with selected spacing criteria, and equipment would be 

required to remain on these designated trails. A harvester/forwarder utilizes two or more pieces of 

equipment. The trees are felled by either a track based feller/buncher or a processor. Hand felling is also 

an option with this system. Trees are then processed in the unit with branches and tops (slash) placed on 

the trail. Yarding of logs is accomplished with a forwarder. A forwarder is a wheeled piece of equipment 

that transports logs fully suspend from the ground. Since trees are processed in the unit very little landing 

area is needed. Where available, most of the equipment operates on a slash mat. Operating on a slash 

mat, along with smaller landings, results in less soil disturbance than conventional ground based systems. 

Skyline logging (approximately 230 acres) would occur in areas where topography is suited for this type 

of logging. In a skyline system, logs would be felled by hand and are yarded up the hill by a system of 

cables, and logs are either partially or fully suspended to reduce soil disturbance. Skyline yarding 

landings are slightly smaller than conventional ground-based systems. Whole tree yarding would occur in 

skyline units. 

The following table is a summary of treatment activity and method of harvest for Alternative B: 

Table 2-2 Alternative B-Summary of Treatment Activity and Harvest Method 

Treatment Method 

of Harvest 

Approximate 

Acres 

Commercial Thinning - (HITH) Harvester/Forwarder 1,660 

Commercial Thinning - (HITH) Skyline 230 

Commercial Thinning with 

Non-Commercial Thinning - 

(HITH/NCT) 

Harvester/Forwarder 170 

Commercial Thinning with NonCommercial Thinning - 

(HITH/NCT) 

No yarding 60 

Shelterwood or Seed-Tree Cut 

(HSSW/HSST) Ground based tractor 250 

Commercial Thinning with 

 Seed-Tree Cut (HITH/HSST) Ground based tractor 100 

Shelterwood Seed Cut with 

Commercial Thinning 

(HSSW/HITH) 

Ground based tractor 30 

Total 

 

2,500 

Activity and Existing Natural Fuels Treatments

Fuel treatments are proposed to reduce activity generated (slash) and/or existing natural fuels. When a 

timber stand’s understory and surface fuel composition creates a risk to fire moving into the crown, 

understory thinning is proposed. Thinning would be done using timber harvest, hand and/or mechanical 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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treatments of small diameter material. Most proposed units would remove small sawlog material through 

commercial thinning. There is a portion of units where the objective is to remove the less than 9 inch 

DBH material; however, in order for the forwarder/processor to move through the stand, some removal of 

trees greater than 9 inches DBH would also be required. If it is economically feasible, material from 3 to 

9 inches DBH in size would be removed as a woody biomass product, except in two units (13 and 26) 

totaling 60 acres which are too steep for harvest equipment. It is anticipated that all material would come 

out in one entry of equipment. No additional equipment entries would be needed. If it is not 

economically feasible, fuel treatments would rely on mastication, grapple piling, and burning. In units 

proposed for commercial harvest, slash treatments would include mastication, grapple piling, and 

prescribed fire, depending on slash loads and the amount of fire sensitive species remaining after harvest. 

Yarding with tops attached is also proposed for units with a silvicultural prescription of shelterwood/seedtree, to prevent excessive slash fuel loading remaining in stands. Soils would be protected by reducing 

the amount of times equipment passes over the ground by using existing skid trails or allowing a single 

pass of the machinery along a route. Mastication would be used to treat both activity fuels and ladder 

fuels when small diameter understory is removed as woody biomass (3-9 inch DBH material) and there 

still remains a high density of understory. Hand piling would be used as a fuel reduction method in 

portions of units where visual quality is a concern, mainly along FR 62 (approximately 10 acres). 

The following table is a detailed summary of proposed fuel treatments by acres. 

Table 2-3 Alternative B-Summary of Activity and Natural Fuel Treatments 

Activity Approximate Acres 

Material Removal* and mastication - 3-9 inch DBH material 400 

Material Removal* and prescribed fire -3-9 inch DBH material 100 

Mastication or grapple pile 1,320 

Mastication or grapple pile and/or prescribed fire 410 

Burn piles on landings 230 

Hand pile burning in units 40 

Total 2,500 

* If economically feasible 

Understory Thinning (hazardous fuel reduction): Normally, one of the below referenced treatments 

would occur in a specific unit depending upon the market conditions for the sale of woody biomass 

products at the time of implementation. The preferred option would be commercial material removal over 

mastication. In some stands, trees less than 3 inches DBH are abundant and are too small to be removed 

commercially, therefore, would be thinned using mastication. In dry forest stands where underburning 

would follow removal of 3-9 inch DBH material, it may be necessary to masticate the less than 3 inch 

material prior to burning so that it does not function as “ladders” for flames to climb into overstory 

canopies. The objective of understory thinning is raise the canopy base height so that a fire burning 

through surface fuel does not transition into overstory tree crowns. 

• Removal of 3–9 inch DBH Material: This treatment would thin understory to reduce ladder fuels, 

decrease stand density, and provide woody biomass products for local industry. Treatment could 

occur simultaneously with overstory harvest in units where both are proposed. In units were 

conventional ground based logging systems would occur, a separate entry may be necessary to 

remove this smaller material. Fire resistant species (ponderosa pine, western larch, and Douglas 

fir) would be favored as leave trees where they occur. Small trees with low hanging branches 

(increased canopy base height) would be removed to deter the initiation of a crown fire within the 

treated stand. Increased spacing of trees (reduced canopy bulk density) would result in bringing a 

crown fire that was initiated outside the stand back to the ground. Tree bole spacing is 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-18 

anticipated to range from 16-20 feet. Tree density within this size class range from 50-80 

trees/acre. 

• Mastication of <1–7 inches DBH Material : This treatment would be comparable to the 

understory thinning described above with the exception that material would be masticated as 

opposed to being removed for a commercial product. Objectives of desired bole spacing and 

density are the same as described for understory thinning. Excess dead and down woody material 

(less than 12 inches large end diameter) along with excess snags (less than 9 inches DBH) would 

also be masticated. A commercial entry to remove trees may be needed in some stands in order 

to allow enough space to operate equipment. 

Tractor Yarding Top Attached: Tops would be left attached to the last log and yarded to the landing and 

piled after being severed from the attached log. This material may be utilized for woody biomass 

products or burned in the pile. Landing piles would generally be large in size, but no larger than 1/10 of 

an acre. 

Skyline Units: Harvested trees in skyline units would be whole tree yarded. Non-merchantable tops and 

branches would remain attached until the tree reaches the landing. Once at the landing, trees would be 

limbed and topped. Limbs and tops would be piled at the landing and eventually burned. 

Piling – Grapple: This is a machine treatment that lifts fuel up and lays it in a pile. Both naturally 

occurring woody debris and activity generated fuels would be piled. Chain saws may be used to compact 

material in the pile and throughout the unit to cut logs in lengths that are more easily piled. Pile size 

would vary. This method could be used in place of mastication when surface fuels are not continuous and 

fire intolerant trees need protection. 

Piling – Hand: Hand Piling would occur in areas where aesthetic values are important, or where resource 

values require a low impact treatment method. Chain saws may be used to compact material in the pile. 

Pile size would vary. 

Pile Burning: Piles could be created either mechanically (in the unit or at landings) or by hand piling. 

Burning would occur when the threat of fire spreading from the pile location would be low. A portion of 

the piles may be covered to aid in burning the piles under moist conditions. Piles would be lit by hand 

using drip torches. Pile specifications would ensure that pile burning would have minimal damage to 

residual trees in the stand. Large landings piles that could create a considerable area of bare soil would be 

replanted to native grasses. 

Jackpot burning: This treatment utilizes spot ignitions to remove heavier fuel concentrations. This 

burning would be conducted by hand or with the use of ATV mounted ignition devices. This method 

would be used in stands dominated by fire resistant species. 

Underburning: Low intensity prescribed fire would be applied to a broad area using hand ignition 

devices. This method would be used to favor early seral, fire resistant species composition and structure 

while reducing surface and ladder fuels. Under burning would be used to reduce activity and natural fuels 

in harvest units or other areas having a need to treat natural fuels. The following activities are associated 

with this treatment method: 

• Mop-up: Mop-up would occur only when: fire creep would cause unacceptable mortality to leave 

trees within the unit, fire spread threatens unit boundaries, or smoke management issues arise. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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2-19 

• RHCAs: There would be no ignitions within RHCAs, but fire would be allowed to creep into 

these areas. Fire severity in forested RHCAs would be kept within the non-lethal7 severity for 90 

percent or more of the affected area; and no more than 5 percent of the affected area would be in 

a lethal8 fire severity. 

• Drafting: Ponds and streams would provide fall and spring water sources for fire mop-up/control 

needs. Draft locations would be the pond at the junction of FRs 6200 and 6212, Bear Creek at 

Bear Creek Campground, the pond at FR 6200-380 spur, and the pond on FR 6222. 

Road Management

To accomplish implementation of proposed activities, approximately 50 miles of open system roads, 

about 40 miles of gated, closed system roads, and 1.5 miles of seasonally, open roads would be used as 

haul routes. Of the open road miles, approximately 14 miles are outside of the project planning area and 

represent haul routes to county roads. Closed roads used for project activities would not be opened to the 

general public. All system roads would remain the same after project implementation (open roads would 

remain opened, closed roads would continue to be closed and seasonally open roads would continue with 

that designation). 

Approximately 0.25 miles of new construction would occur to access a project activity unit (42) and be 

available for future management access. It would become a closed system road after project use. This 

new construction is located in the District’s Motorized Access Travel Management Plan’s Huntit Springs 

Strategy Area that is closed yearlong to motorized travel. This new construction would serve as a link to 

an existing road system in the area. The original section of road that connected this road system was 

eliminated by the survey and posting of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness boundary. The new road 

would be constructed with a self-maintaining design that is outsloped, with rolling drain dips and 

surfacing as needed. This area of construction has a very slight side slope, so cuts and fill slopes would 

be minimal in size. Approximately 0.20 miles of temporary road construction would occur off FR 6214 

to access two harvest units (#88 and 89), and would be decommissioned after timber sale use. This 

temporary road would be built on a ridge where a user-developed jeep trail already exists. It would not 

require cut and fill construction. If the road remains over winter, waterbars would be installed to prevent 

erosion. Upon completion of timber sale activities the road would be subsoiled, berms would be pulled 

into the roadbed. It would be revegetated with native seed, and mulching with existing slash would occur. 

The road entrance would be camouflaged to discourage use. A complete listing of roads used for the 

project is located in Appendix C.

Road Maintenance: Road maintenance is needed to protect water quality and aquatic resources, to meet 

access needs, and to provide safe and efficient road operations. Road maintenance consists of a variety of 

activity components including surface rock replacement, spot surfacing, roadside brushing, erosion 

control, logging out, road surface blading, ditch cleanout, slide removal, dust abatement, culvert cleaning 

or replacement, danger tree removal, and other items that contribute to the preservation of the existing 

road and its safe use. Approximately 11 miles of roadbed reconditioning and surface rock replacement 

would occur on FR 6200, reconditioning and adding drainage structures on FRs 6200163, 6222, and 

6219050. Some spot surfacing and replacing aggregate on FR 6214, and creating a truck turnaround 

beyond the FR6214060 junction would occur. On FR 6222 near Squaw Creek an undersized culvert 

would be removed and an adequate ditch would be constructed to a new drain dip location that would 

 

7 Non-lethal severity is defined as more than 90 percent of the canopy cover or 70 percent of the basal area survives 

the burn. 

8 Lethal (Stand replacement) severity is less than 10 percent of the canopy cover or less than 20 percent of the 

basal area of the overstory vegetation remains after the fire. 
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transport water that is currently accumulating at the site. Another drain dip would be constructed to 

handle the flow from a seep and wet bank just east of Squaw Creek crossing. 

The following table shows a summary of transportation activities that would occur. 

Table 2-4 Alternative B-Summary of Transportation Activities 

Activity Amount 

Maintenance: 

Standard Maintenance 90 miles 

Surface rock replacement 11 miles 

Heavy brushing 65 miles 

New Road Construction (would become a closed system road) 0.25 miles 

Temporary Road Construction (decommissioned subsequent to use) 0.20 miles 

Gated closed system roads to be opened for project access and then reclosed 40 miles 

Rock Sources 3 

Water Sources 3 

Material Sources: Three existing rock sources would be used and there would not be a need for any 

further expansion. 

Water Sources: Three water sources would be used (ponds located at FR 6200390 and Bear Creek at FRs 

6200, and 6214036). 

DANGER TREE REMOVAL

Danger trees would be felled and removed along all haul routes used for timber sale activity and around 

trailheads. Trees with an imminent failure potential and those deemed likely to fail within a 5-10 year 

period would be felled along open system roads. Only danger trees with an imminent failure potential 

would be felled on haul routes along inventoried roadless areas, and on closed system roads. If 

considered economically feasible, these trees would be sold as part of a timber sale. Danger trees within 

Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) would be felled and left to provide additional coarse 

woody debris. 

A danger tree is defined as any standing tree that presents hazard to people due to conditions such as, but 

not limited to, deterioration or physical damage to the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs and the direction 

or lean of the tree (FSH 6709.11, Glossary). Along roadways, danger trees would be evaluated in 

accordance with the Field Guide for Danger Tree Identification and Response, Pacific Northwest Region, 

2008. Danger trees around trailheads would be evaluated in the context of Long Range Planning for 

Developed Sites in the Pacific Northwest: The Context of Hazard Tree Management, Pacific Northwest 

Region, 1992. A tree’s potential failure zone is the area that could be reached by any part of a failed tree. 

This is generally one and one-half tree lengths, but can vary depending on slope, tree height, lean, 

individual tree characteristics, and other factors. 

LANDSCAPE PRESCRIBED FIRE (GRANDE RONDE RIVER, BEAR CREEK AND ALDER 

CREEK CANYONS)

Landscape prescribed fire would occur across approximately 8,000 acres within the Bear Creek, Alder 

Creek and Grande Ronde canyons, including approximately 7,400 acres of the Grande Ronde inventoried 

roadless area (IRA) that are within the project planning area. This treatment would reintroduce fire to a 

fire-dependent ecosystem blackening about 60 percent of the area to lessen the impact of a future 

uncharacteristic wildfire and improve forage quality for big game. Fire intensities would be kept low, by 

keeping fire out of overstory stands, and burning mainly surface fuels throughout the majority of the 

project area. Individual tree and group torching would likely occur in areas where there are sufficient 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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2-21 

ladder fuels and in timber stands with high occurrences of mistletoe. Average flame lengths in the project 

area would be approximately 1-3 feet. Because this is such a large prescribed fire area and much of the 

perimeter is not bounded by roads or other fire breaks, fire will be allowed to creep outside the perimeter 

within the identified contingency area. This contingency area is defined by FR 6200000 on the west side 

and FR 6222000 on the north side. If fire behavior were to become more active in the contingency area, 

including making runs, spotting, torching, crowning, or have sustained flame lengths over 4 feet, 

immediate suppression actions would occur. 

Upon completion of treatment this area would be a mosaic of unburned, lightly burned, moderately 

burned, and intensely burned patches. Of those acres blackened by fire, approximately 10 percent would 

be burned at a high intensity, 40 percent at moderate intensity and 50 percent at low intensity. High, 

moderate, and low intensities are defined as follows: 

• High intensity-individual and group tree torching, 10-20 foot flame lengths, high heat output: 

standing trees are killed; majority of fuel in all size classes is consumed: 1-20 acre patches 

• Moderate intensity-individual tree torching, 5-10 foot flame lengths, moderate heat output, 80 

percent of fire tolerant species survive, fire intolerant species are killed through second order fire 

effects, majority of understory trees are killed, one hour (0-1⁄4 inch), ten hour (1⁄4 – 1 inch) and 

hundred hour (1-3 inch) fuels are totally consumed, thousand hour (3-9 inch) fuels are reduced by 

50 percent: 5-50 acre patches 

• Low intensity-fire burning in surface fuels and understory, 1-5 foot flame lengths, low heat 

output, small groups of regeneration are killed, one, ten and hundred hour fuels are reduced by 50 

percent, thousand hour fuels are not consumed: 10-100 acre patches 

Firelines: Construction of handlines and machine lines would not be necessary within the canyons. 

Handlines may be used on the outer edges of the prescribed fire perimeter to stop fire spread. The area 

would be burned in stages, breaking up the larger 8,000 acre unit into 2-6 smaller prescribed fire units. 

Blacklining methods would be used to define areas to be burned and to hold fire along drainage breaks 

during implementation of each of the smaller prescribed fire areas. Blacklining operations along the 

breaks of Bear and Alder canyons would be implemented through hand ignition methods. 

Ignitions: Aerial ignition would be used in large prescribed fire units in the canyons. All interior areas of 

the Bear and Alder Creek canyons would be aerially ignited. Aerial ignition involves utilizing a 

helicopter to drop polystyrene spheres (similar to ping pong balls) onto receptive fuel beds within the 

project perimeter. These spheres are injected with chemicals that cause them to ignite shortly after hitting 

the ground. Fuel for hand ignitions would be mixed prior to arrival at the prescribed fire area. 

Helicopter Service Areas: Large, open, flat ridges in close proximity to the Bear and Alder Creek canyons 

would be used for landing and fueling the helicopter for aerial ignition. One such location would be the 

large, open area off FR 6200340 or FR 6200345. Another possible location would be near the junction of 

FR 6222000 and FR 6222027. Fuel for helicopter operations would only be onsite during ignition, and 

would not be stored at these locations long-term. 

Use of ATVs: ATVs may be used during blacklining or aerial ignition operations and would be used 

primarily on open and closed Forest roads and open ridgetops in the prescribed fire area. 

Mop-up, riparian ignition and protection, and water drafting would be the same as described for activity 

fuel treatments above. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-22 

HARDWOOD RESTORATION

Release from conifers and construction of protective fencing would occur on 23 hardwood sites (aspen, 

black cottonwood, and mountain mahogany), encompassing approximately 115 acres. This includes one 

site that contains several aspen stands at Elk Flats Meadow, 10 additional aspen stands scattered within 

the Cobbler II project planning area, as well as 11 cottonwood stands, and 1 mountain mahogany stand. 

Most of these stands have only mature or over-mature hardwood trees with little or no regeneration, or 

regeneration that is being severely browsed. Some competing conifers would be cut and left on site. The 

down wood would become barriers to grazing animals. Limbs may be piled and burned. Other conifer 

trees would be girdled to increase water and sunlight to aspen while allowing conifers to die out slowly. 

Buck and pole fencing would occur as funding allows. 

Access to sites outside of RHCAs would be either by truck or ATV. For sites within RHCAs, only ATVs 

would be used to deliver supplies. Where conifers are felled within meadows or RHCAs, slash may be 

hand piled and burned. No travel by ATV would occur within meadows except when they are dry, and 

travel would be limited to three or fewer passes. 

In the aspen (approximately 0.33 acres) and cottonwood (approximately 0.12 acres) stands located in the 

Grande Ronde IRA there would be no vehicle travel (including ATVs). Competing conifers would be 

girdled only in the cottonwood stand (approximately 10-20 trees) and would remain as dead standing 

trees. Buck and pole fencing would occur as funding becomes available. Approximately 400 linear feet 

of temporary buck and pole fencing would be used around the aspen stand and approximately 150 linear 

feet around the cottonwood stand. Fencing would be maintained until hardwood spouts reach 4 inches 

DBH and then would be removed. 

MEADOW RESTORATION

A series of dry meadows along FR 62, an estimated 275 acres, would be burned to rejuvenate meadow 

vegetation and reduce conifer encroachment. Young trees are growing and becoming established in areas 

that were maintained as grass before fire suppression. Trees less than or equal to 6 inches DBH would be 

cut by hand followed by prescribed fire. The ignition would be by hand or ATVs would be used when the 

site is dry. This activity would occur over multiple years and may require a temporary electric fence 

around the meadows to keep cattle out, so enough grass is retained to carry the fire. Some of these 

meadows are in close proximity to old forest stands that are proposed for thinning. Some fire would 

likely creep into the forest stands, but the design and timing of burning would limit the amount of tree 

mortality while reducing fuel in these stands. Burning in meadows would be coordinated with the range 

grazing program. 

NON-COMMERCIAL THINNING 

This activity would cut trees measuring less than 6 inches DBH that are excess to full stocking, on 

approximately 1,900 acres (outside of proposed harvest and fuels treatment units). Trees up to 9 inches 

DBH also may be cut in some units because of special circumstances such as insects and disease. The 

primary objective in all non-commercial thinning units is for enhancement of growth and vigor. 

Undesired trees and fuels would be mechanically masticated or slashed by hand and scattered. In noncommercial thinning units adjacent to fuel reduction units where mechanical mastication methods would 

be used, slash would be treated so that the resulting height of surface fuels is no greater than 1-foot in 

depth. In other units, slash may be treated so that the remaining height of surface fuels is no greater than 

2 feet in depth, with the total acres within the project area thinned with a 2-foot slash depth not to exceed 

250 acres in one year. Logs greater than 12 inches in diameter on the large end would be left untreated. 

Leave tree spacing would range from 15 feet x 15 feet or 194 trees per acre (TPA) for Engelmann spruce 

and grand fir on moist plant associations to 20 feet x 20 feet (108 TPA) for ponderosa pine and lodgepole 

pine in dry plant associations. Tree selection would allow the spacing to vary by 50 percent giving the 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-23 

stand a more natural look and would allow the selection of best trees. RHCAs would not be thinned. 

Leave tree selection would be done to retain a diversity of tree species on the unit; however, healthy early 

seral species such as larch, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir would be favored. Residual trees would be 

protected from scarring. 

FOREST PLAN AMENDMENT:

This alternative would require the Forest Supervisor to amend the Umatilla National Forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan to reallocate acres in management area allocations D2- Research Natural 

Area, E2- Timber and Big Game, and A9-Special Interest Area to allow for restoration of existing aspen 

stands. 

Elk Flats Meadow (70 acres) which is currently designated as management area D2 as a proposed 

research natural area candidate would be reallocated to management area A9- Special Interest Area, in 

order to allow vegetation management, including cutting and leaving of trees, to preserve and or enhance 

existing aspen and encourage aspen regeneration. In the same vicinity, an adjacent portion of 

management area E2 (30 acres) which is primarily comprised of meadows would be changed to A9, and a 

small area of D2 (10 acres) that does not contain hardwood stands or have any special interest features 

would be changed to management area E2. 

Elk Flats Meadow is not compatible with the current Forest Plan management area designation of D2 – 

Research Natural Area, where it is listed as a candidate site. Evaluations by the Blue Mountain’s Forest 

Ecologist after completion of the Forest Plan indicated that formal RNA designation is not appropriate for 

Elk Flats Meadow, because of the small size of the parcel and because the aspen clones are ecotonal (i.e. 

transitional between forest and meadow) rather than true aspen forest. Establishment reports and 

management plans, which are required to formally establish an RNA, were never prepared for this site. 

Designation of Elk Flats Meadow to management area A9- Special Interest Area would allow for 

restoration treatments of existing aspen stands. Cutting and removal of vegetation in management area 

allocation D2 is prohibited, except as part of an approved scientific investigation. 

Changes to the Forest Plan would be made on page 4-175 under the “Description” heading which now 

reads “Eight areas have been identified and are managed as research natural areas. Three (Pataha, 

Rainbow Creek, and Wenaha Breaks9) have been established by the Chief’s order. The other five 

candidate areas are Elk Flats Meadow, Kelly Creek Butte, Mill Creek Watershed, Vinegar Hill, and Birch 

Creek Cove.” The Forest Plan would be amended to read “Seven areas have been identified and are 

managed as research natural areas. Three (Pataha, Rainbow Creek, and Wenaha Breaks) have been 

established by the Chief’s order. The other four candidate areas are Kelly Creek Butte, Mill Creek 

Watershed, Vinegar Hill, and Birch Creek Cove.” It would also amend the Forest Plan on page 4-131, 

under A9-Special Interest Area, to include the addition of Elk Flats Meadow under the description of 

Botanical Areas. This amendment would last beyond project duration and would remain in effect until 

the Forest Plan is revised. 

 

9

 A decision to amend the Forest Plan and a Designation Order to establish Wenaha Breaks as a designated RNA 

were signed July 29, 2008. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-24 

The following table is a summary of present and proposed changes to management area allocations with 

this Forest Plan amendment. Also see map in Appendix A. 

Table 2-5 Management Area Changes with Forest Plan Amendment 

Present 

Management Area Allocation 

Forest Plan Amendment 

Reallocated to 

Acres 

Reallocated 

D2 - Research Natural Area 

 (Elk Flats Meadow) 

A9 - Special Interest Area 70 

E2 - Timber and Big Game 

(aspen stands) 

A9 - Special Interest Area 30 

D2 - Research Natural Area E2 - Timber and Big Game 10 

Total 110 

DESIGN FEATURES AND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Umatilla National Forest uses two general types of mitigation: project design features and management 

requirements. Management requirements are standards that are established to protect forest resources, 

and are implemented during or after project implementation. Project design features are actions designed 

for a specific project to reduce or prevent undesirable effects from proposed activities. Project design 

elements can include avoiding the effect, minimizing or mitigating the effect by limiting the action, 

rectifying the effect, reducing the effect through maintenance, or compensating for the effect. 

The following table lists the design features and management requirements integrated into all action 

alternatives to minimize the effects of proposed management activities. Effectiveness of implementing 

these measures is considered to be high for this project. These measures have been used successfully for 

past projects on Umatilla National Forest. Forest Plan monitoring, and annual evaluation reports have 

documented the effectiveness of these measures. 

Table 2-6 Design Features and Management Requirements 

Objective Task Timeline 

HYDROLOGY/WATER QUALITY 

PACFISH 

Protection of 

Riparian Habitat 

Conservation 

Areas (RHCAs) 

Stream and riparian protection is based on the Forest Plan as amended by PACFISH. 

PACFISH standards and guidelines related to timber harvest, roads, and fire apply to 

this project and are incorporated by reference into this document. No harvest will take 

place in RHCAs which are described below as they apply to this project. 

Category 1 - Fish-bearing streams: RHCAs consist of the stream and the area on either 

side of the stream extending 300 feet slope distance from the edges of the active stream 

channel. 

Category 2 - Perennial non-fish-bearing streams: RHCAs consist of the stream and the 

area on either side of the stream extending 150 feet slope distance from the edges of the 

active stream channel. 

Category 3 - Ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands greater than 1 acre: RHCAs consist 

of the body of water or wetland and the area to the outer edges of the riparian 

vegetation, or the extent of the seasonally saturated soil, or 150 feet slope distance from 

the edge of the maximum pool elevation of constructed ponds and reservoirs or from the 

edge of the wetland, pond or lake, whichever is greatest. 

Prior to and 

during activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

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Objective Task Timeline 

Category 4 - Seasonally flowing or intermittent streams, wetlands less than 1 acre, 

landslides, and landslide-prone areas: This category includes features with high 

variability in size and site-specific characteristics. At a minimum the RHCAs must 

include: the area from the edges of the stream channel, wetland, landslide, or land-slide 

prone area to a distance equal to 120 feet. 

Protection of water 

quality 

(Clean Water Act) 

Implement and monitor Best Management Practices (BMPs) and incorporate findings into 

project implementation (See Appendix D for a listing of BMPs selected for project 

implementation along with effectiveness rating). 

Ground based equipment will cross ephemeral draws and channels at sites pre-approved 

by the responsible Forest official, and crossings will be minimized. 

• Harvest systems will be designed to minimize crossing ephemeral draws. 

Ephemeral draws will not be crossed where equipment will cause bank 

breakdown. 

• All embedded wood will be retained. Other wood will be retained as specified in 

project BMPs (Appendix D) 

Ephemeral stream channels will not be used as forwarder trails, landing sites, or as road 

locations. 

Commercial use of National Forest roads shall be suspended when commercial contract or 

permit operations create a continuous discharge of sediment into live streams that result in 

an increase on turbidity. This may be from pumping of saturated fines creating sedimentladen water on and/or from the road surface. Visual evidence of this may be identified by 

the increase in turbidity in live running streams evident at points downstream from the 

outflows of culverts, ditchlines, or fords (Umatilla NF Road Use Rules). 

Timber sale purchaser will prepare a spill containment plan that will ensure that spilled 

fuel will not leave the site. Fuel will not be stored within any RHCA. 

Rock surfacing will be used on haul routes that cross or otherwise enter RHCAs. 

Culvert replacement in tributary draws will remain in the topographic draw, ditch relief 

culverts could be in new locations. 

Rocked drain dips will be constructed at side ephemeral draws. 

Where the proposed haul routes encounter wet areas, new drainage structures and surface 

rock will be installed. 

The proposed temporary road will have drainage installed if it remained over-winter. 

Upon completion of project activity the road will be subsoiled. Berms will be pulled into 

the roadbed, and the road will be revegetated with native seed and mulched with existing 

slash. The road entrance will be camouflaged to discourage use. 

Prior to, 

during, and 

post activity 

FISH/AQUATIC HABITAT

Protection of fish 

habitat 

State of Oregon in-stream work window (from July 1 to September 15) will be used to 

replace culverts in stream channels with perennial flows. 

When water drafting, sources will be monitored for reduced flows. When and if low flow 

(less than 5 cfs) conditions are identified, spring-fed ponds will be used as sources prior to 

the use of stream sources whenever feasible. When spring-fed ponds are not feasible, 

stream sources can be used but pumping rates must not reduce flows to less than 5 cfs. If 

Prior to, 

during, and 

post activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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Objective Task Timeline 

the stream has less than 10 cfs, stream flow cannot be reduced more than 1/10th of the 

existing stream flow and will discontinue drafting if this amount is exceeded. 

During road maintenance and snow plowing side casting of materials will not occur where 

these materials could be directly or indirectly introduced into a stream, or where the 

placement of these materials could contribute to the destabilization of the slope. 

Commercial use of National Forest roads shall be suspended when commercial contract or 

permit operations create movement of sediment laden water from the road surface in areas 

where it could flow into stream channels. This may be from pumping of saturated fines 

by passage of commercial or contract vehicles, creating sediment laden water on the road 

surface during rain or snowmelt periods. 

Slough and waste materials removed during road maintenance activities, including ditch 

and culvert cleaning, will be deposited in approved disposal areas outside of RHCAs. For 

erosion control and stabilization the disposal site will be seeded with native seed. 

Sediment control devices will be placed to trap sediment in specific areas where sediment 

could reach a stream. 

When masticating equipment is used to remove brush at stream crossings it will be used in 

such a way as to not cause ground disturbance and to prevent sediment delivery to a live 

stream. Brush and other standing vegetation that provides shade to streams will be 

maintained except where public safety is an issue. 

Ditches will only be maintained where the water captured by the ditch is not able to be 

transported to the adjacent drainage structure that carries the water across the road. 

Refueling, repair, and maintenance of equipment will be done at landings or on forest 

roads outside of RHCAs. 

AIR QUALITY 

Protection of air 

quality 

(Clean Air Act) 

Oregon State Smoke Management Plan regulations will be followed to protect air quality 

and avoid smoke intrusion into sensitive areas. 

During 

activity 

SOILS 

Protection of soil 

during burning 

Retain as much duff as possible, while meeting fuel reduction objectives to control 

erosion and provide organic matter. 

With jackpot or underburning, soil exposure will be limited to 20 percent or less of the 

area on steep slopes. 

During, and 

post activity 

Erosion control on 

fire lines 

Fireline construction will only occur where necessary. Any fireline constructed will be to 

minimal standard. Locations will be evaluated post-harvest. All firelines will be 

waterbarred and seeded at project completion, as needed. 

Prior to, 

during and 

post activity 

Soil 

protection/erosion 

control 

All logging systems will provide at least one-end suspension. 

Yarding will be spaced for optimum efficiency and minimum soil disturbance. Forwarder 

trails will average 50 feet apart, except where converging. Conventional system trail 

spacing will average 100 feet. Skyline system corridors will average 150 feet apart. All 

trails will be approved prior to use. 

Prior to and 

during activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-27 

Objective Task Timeline 

Use existing trail system as much as possible. Ground based equipment will operate when 

soil conditions are dry enough to support machinery adequately. 

No ground-based equipment will operate on sustained slopes greater than 35% in order to 

reduce the potential for soil movement. 

Minimize exposure of soils and keep erosion control current. 

Landings will be designed to minimize size and constructed to minimize adverse effects 

and provide for safe operations. 

During and upon completion of harvest activities erosion control measures will occur on 

forwarder trails and landings. 

Seed all soil exposed by operation using native seed. Waterbar and mulch as necessary to 

prevent erosion. 

Post-activity exposed mineral soil will be treated as necessary to reduce soil erosion and 

compaction. This may include seeding, installation of waterbars, mulching with native 

material, or subsoiling. Where possible and needed, skid trails will be subsoiled and/or 

have logging slash and large wood left. 

Temporary roads - install drainage if roads remain over-winter, after use subsoil, pull 

berms into roadbed, revegetate with native seed, mulch with existing slash, and 

camouflage entrance to discourage use.

INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES 

Control and 

prevention of 

invasive plants 

(noxious weeds) 

Noxious weed sites will be treated consistent with the 1995 Umatilla National Forest 

noxious weed Decision Notice and consistent with the 2005 Region 6 Invasive Plant EIS 

and ROD that amended the Umatilla Forest Plan. 

All gravel, fill, sand stockpiles, quarry sites, and borrow material will be inspected for the 

presence of invasive plants before use and transport. Use only gravel, fill, sand, and rock 

that are judged to be weed seed free by District or Forest weed specialist. 

Road blading, brushing and ditch cleaning in areas with high concentrations of invasive 

plants will be conducted in consultation with District or Forest-level invasive plant 

specialists. Invasive plant treatment and prevention practices will be incorporated as 

appropriate. This may include minimizing soil disturbance, but will not preclude it. 

Project or contract maps will show currently inventoried high priority noxious weed 

infestations as a means of aiding in avoidance and/or monitoring. 

Prior to moving onto the Forest, reasonable measures will be taken to insure that all offroad equipment is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain 

or hold seeds. In addition, prior to moving off-road equipment from a cutting unit known 

to be infested with invasive species to any other unit that is believed to be free of noxious 

weeds, reasonable measures will again be taken to make sure equipment is free of soil, 

seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds (timber sale 

contract provision B/BT 6.35 or equivalent provision). 

Use weed-free straw and mulch for all projects conducted or authorized by the Forest 

Service on National Forest System Lands. If state certified straw and/or mulch is not 

Prior to, 

during, and 

post activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-28 

Objective Task Timeline 

available, individual forests should require sources certified to be weed free using the 

North American Weed Free Forage Program standards, or a similar certification process 

All soils disturbed by project activities will be revegetated with certified weed free native 

seed. 

Logging system design will consider the objectives of maintaining ground cover and 

minimizing ground disturbance. Forest Plan standards and guidelines for ground and soil 

disturbance will be followed. 

Helicopter landings and parking areas will not be located in known areas of invasive 

plants. 

CULTURAL RESOURCE 

Preservation and 

protection of 

archaeological sites 

Cultural resource surveys have been conducted within the project area. Cultural/historic 

sites will be protected by avoiding them. 

Since some project activities will be implemented over multiple years, project leaders will 

contact the assistant Forest Archaeologist prior to project implementation for monitoring 

and avoidance purposes. 

Prior to, and 

during activity 

RANGE RESOURCE 

Protection of range 

resources 

Aspen fencing will not exclude livestock from water sources. 

All livestock improvements will be protected in fire plans. 

Dry meadow burning will be lighted using hand methods where there is a range plot 

marked with metal posts. Burning of meadows will be coordinated with the range 

program. 

Protect existing Condition and Trend transect, located in T5N, R41E, Section 8 (Stand 

Tag 620SP12013). This transect has permanent metal stakes located low to the ground 

and for safety reasons will be flagged prior to fire ignition. 

Prior to, 

during and 

post activity 

WILDLIFE 

Maintain dead 

wood habitat 

(timber harvest) 

Snag Retention – Maintain dead wood habitat and green replacement trees at or beyond 

levels identified in the table below. All snags retained will be greater than 20-inch 

diameter at breast height, but if there are not enough snags of this size, all large snags will 

be left and some smaller snags will be retained to make up the difference. Tree species 

and soundness at the base will also be considered. The tree species most preferred are 

ponderosa pine, western larch, and Douglas-fir. See the following table, Snag and down 

wood retention per acre by plant association group.

Ponderosa 

pine 

Mixed 

conifer 

Grand 

fir 

Lodgepole 

pine 

Subalpine 

zone 

Snags > 20 in dbh (per acre) 3 3 2 2 2 

Green Tree Replacements 

(per acre) 23 16 9 14 19 

Down Wood Pieces (per acre) 3 - 6 15 - 20 15 - 20 

Diameter at the small end > 12 

inches > 12 inches > 8 inches 

Length per piece > 6 feet > 20 feet > 8 feet 

Total length per acre > 20 feet > 100 feet > 120 feet 

Prior to, 

during, and 

post activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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Objective Task Timeline 

Maintain dead 

wood habitat 

(post-harvest 

burning) 

Slash will not be piled against large trees or snags to prevent loss from prescribed fire. Prior to and 

during activity 

Protection of Bat 

Habitat 

Hollow or partially hollow, broken top snags greater than 15 inches DBH will be left to 

provide roost habitat for bats. Dead grand fir most commonly provides hollow tree 

habitat. 

Prior to and 

during activity 

Protection of 

unique wildlife 

habitat 

Unique wildlife habitat such as, seeps, springs, bogs, wallows, cliffs, talus, ad caves will 

be protected by minimizing ground disturbance one and one half tree lengths from the 

area.

Prior to and 

during activity 

Protection of Big 

Game Winter 

Range 

Activities will be restricted in elk winter range from December 1 through March 30 in the 

following units: 4, 9-14, 26, 27, 29-35, 42, 60, 64-67, 70, 72, 86-96.

During 

activity 

Protection of scab 

flats and meadows 

Lithosol (scab flats) and meadows will not be used for landings and skid trails unless no 

other location is practical. If use is necessary disturbance will be kept to a minimum 

amount of the area, preferably at the edges. 

Prior to and 

during activity 

Meet ESA 

requirements 

If any federally listed species are found in the project area, the appropriate resource 

specialist will be contacted immediately. The Contracting Officer will take appropriate 

action to insure species are protected. Timber sale contract provision BT6.24 will apply. 

Protection measure for known federally listed species will be listed in provision BT6.24. 

If a gray wolf den or rendezvous site is identified prior to or during project activities, 

seasonal restrictions would be implemented, and the Blue Mountain Programmatic 

Informal Section 7 Consultation Process (April 25, 2007) will be followed.

Prior to, and 

during activity 

Protection of 

Goshawk Habitat 

Protect goshawk nests from disturbance if any are located during project activities. No 

nest sites are currently identified. Defer harvest on 30 acres of the most suitable nesting 

habitat around nest sites. Retain late and old structure forest in a 400-acre post-fledging 

area (PFA) as determined by the district biologist. Defer activities in active PFAs from 

April through August. 

Prior to and 

during activity 

Protection of 

Raptor Nests 

Protect known or discovered raptor nest sites from management and human disturbances 

until fledging has been completed. Level of protection will vary by species and will be 

recommended by the District wildlife biologist (FP4-57). 

Prior to, and 

during activity 

General Protection 

of Wildlife Habitat 

An average of one unburned slash pile or jackstraw logs per acre will be provided for 

denning habitat for various wildlife species. (FP 4-160) 

Seeps, springs, bogs, wallows, and other wet areas will be evaluated and protection 

measures determined by the District wildlife biologist. (FP 4-57, 4-160) 

If cliffs, talus or cave habitat is found, protection measures will be determined by the 

District wildlife biologist. (FP-57) 

Prior to, 

during, and 

post activity 

RECREATION 

Protection of 

recreational access 

Ensure that roads are closed during logging and prescribed fire activities and are reopened as soon as possible after work is completed, especially during hunting season. Prior to and 

during activity 

Transportation 

management 

During project activity alternative snowmobile routes will be designated in order to avoid 

conflict between winter logging operations and snowmobile activity. 

Prior to and 

during activity 

Protection of 

dispersed camping 

sites 

Areas around dispersed hunter camps will be retained with a Partial Retention Visual 

Quality Objective (VQO). 

During, and 

post activity 

PUBLIC SAFETY 

Public safety 

during project 

implementation 

Warning or informational signs will be placed along major travel routes during project 

operations (timber, fire, engineering, restoration projects, etc) to alert and inform the 

public. Current information will be posted on portal entry kiosks. 

Prior to and 

during activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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Objective Task Timeline 

Public access may be restricted in some areas during active haul of merchantable material 

for public and operational safety. 

If treatment activities occur around an inventoried hunter camp, identified danger trees 

will be felled and removed. 

HARDWOOD and MEADOW RESTORATION

Protection of 

Hardwoods and 

Meadows 

Access to sites outside of RHCAs will be either by truck or ATV, or both. For sites that 

are within RHCAs only ATVs will be used. 

No travel by ATV will occur within meadows except when they are dry, and travel will be 

limited to 3 or fewer passes by ATV. 

No travel by vehicles, including ATVs, in the Grande Ronde IRA. 

ATVs will cross stream channels only when they are dry and where crossing will not 

break down or otherwise damage stream banks 

Where conifers are felled within meadows or RHCAs, slash may be hand piled and 

burned. 

Storage of fuel and fueling of saws and drip torches will take place outside of RHCAs. 

During 

activity 

FUELS AND PRESCRIBED FIRE

Protection of 

resources during 

fuels and 

prescribed fire 

treatments 

In skyline units non-merchantable tops and branches will remain attached until the tree 

reaches the landing. At the landing trees will be limbed and topped and piled for burning 

(contract provision CT6.74). 

Hand piling of fuels in units where visual quality is a concern, particularly along Forest 

Road 62. 

Mop-up/suppression activities will be conducted for fires that cause mortality of trees at 

unacceptable levels within activity fuel units. 

Fireline construction - Blackline: Blacklines are pre-burned areas that are used as 

firelines. Often times they are associated with natural barriers or roads using to widen the 

defensible area. Black lining can provide a wide fireline without the disturbance that 

occurs with other methods. Blackline will likely be used in landscape and meadow units. 

Handline: Hand firelines will be used only when burn conditions indicate the need to 

control the creep of fire in the duff. There is the potential that fall burning will require the 

use of more handlines than spring burning because of lower fuel moisture and the higher 

risk of fire creeping into unwanted areas. Burning will occur during times (season and 

time of day) of relatively higher humidity to reduce the need of handline in riparian. 

Chainsaws will be used to cut overhanging brush and large logs. Line construction will 

remove the duff the layer to mineral soil no more than 18 inches wide. Any line 

constructed will be rehabbed and water barred. 

Ignition: The burning of piles and construction of blacklines will be done by hand 

ignition. No mixing or preparing of slash fuels will occur in the planning area. Slash fuel 

needed for hand ignitions will be mixed prior to reaching the area. 

Prior to, 

during, and 

post activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

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Objective Task Timeline 

VEGETATION 

Protection from 

insects and disease 

Treat grand fir and subalpine fir stumps with borax to reduce the risk of root disease 

spreading to remaining sites. 

Post activity 

Protection of 

residual trees 

Protect desirable advanced regeneration and mature trees in residual stands of all harvest 

and fuel treatment units. 

During 

activity 

TES PLANTS 

Protection of 

sensitive plant 

species 

Mapped sites of Bolander’s spikerush (ELBO) will be designated as no activity zones and 

will be avoided during project activities. Sites in harvest units will be flagged on the 

ground and avoided, trees will be felled away from the sites. No mechanical equipment 

will be allowed, no landings will be constructed, and no piling of slash will be allowed 

within designated no activity zones. No off-road ground disturbing activities will be 

allowed. Any roadwork in these areas will be done so as not to alter the local hydrology 

of the area. 

In meadow areas the same design criteria as above applies, except that prescribed fire will 

be allowed. 

Prior to and 

during activity 

MONITORING FRAMEWORK

Monitoring for both implementation (whether the project was implemented as planned) and effectiveness 

(whether overall management objectives were met) will occur. Forest Service personnel will conduct 

monitoring in areas that have the highest probability of showing effects. 

Identification of BMPs (Appendix D) for the proposed actions has occurred, and any action which might 

occur in this planning area will be considered for monitoring in the Umatilla National Forest annual BMP 

monitoring. RHCA widths in harvest units, road maintenance work on FR 6222 near Squaw Creek, and 

road use and maintenance during wet weather are items that will be monitored. 

Number, size, and distribution of snags and down logs within a sample of units will be field checked by 

Forest Service personnel. 

The Forest Service contract representative or other staff will monitor during and after activities to ensure 

sediment and soil disturbance objectives are met. If objectives are not met, Forest Service personnel will 

identify and implement corrective action and document modifications to be used in future projects. 

Ongoing interagency cooperative monitoring for gray wolf will continue in the Cobbler II project 

planning area. 

The District noxious weed coordinator or crew will conduct noxious weed species surveys prior to 

initiation of harvest or other ground disturbing activities within the project area. 

Forest Service personnel will spot-check activities during implementation to determine whether noxious 

weed mitigation measures are implemented. Deviations will be corrected immediately. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-32 

Dependent on available funding and resources, the District noxious weed coordinator or crew will 

inventory portions of the project area determined to be at risk for weed spread due to project 

implementation for up to five years as needed. 

After prescribed fire treatments, Forest Service personnel will field check a sample of burned units to 

determine whether the prescription objectives and mitigation (i.e. mortality, mineral soil exposure, fuel 

load reductions, etc.) have been met. If objectives or mitigation have not been met, additional burning 

may be delayed or the fire prescription and procedures adapted to ensure that mitigation is achieved. 

Anticipated effectiveness of each monitoring element for the Cobbler II project is considered to be high. 

Alternative C 

PURPOSE AND DESIGN:

Activities in Alternative C are designed to respond to the agency’s purpose and need for action by 

thinning overstocked stands to promote forest resiliency and reduce fuels while responding to the key 

issues of elk habitat, and old forest habitat and functional connective corridors. This alternative is 

designed to: 

• Implement project activities with fewer impacts on elk cover or old forest habitat. 

• Move upland forests toward historical range of variability for species composition, structural 

diversity, and stocking densities. 

• Reduce fuel loads, both ground and ladder fuels, restore historic fuel patterns and fire regimes, 

and modify the intensity and resulting fire behavior for safer fire suppression efforts. 

• Continue to work in support of economic and quality of life opportunities for local and regional 

economies. 

• Reduce risk of personal injury by removing danger trees along trailheads and haul routes used for 

timber sale activity. 

• Influence stocking levels, growth, health, and vigor of plantations by implementing noncommercial thinning. 

• Protect and enhance vegetative conditions of hardwoods by increasing the vigor of existing 

stands. 

• Amend the Forest Plan to reallocate management areas in and around Elk Flats Meadow area to 

maintain or enhance existing aspen, which have declined and encourage aspen and other 

hardwood regeneration in this area. 

DESCRIPTION:

TIMBER HARVEST AND FUELS TREATMENT

Commercially harvest approximately 1,300 acres. In some treatment units timber harvest would include 

the removal sawlogs and small diameter trees in the 3-9 inch DBH range which would be used as a 

woody biomass product. In some treatment units only woody biomass products would be removed. 

Harvest objectives would vary by stand condition and fire management objectives. Some stands would be 

thinned to maintain tree growth and vigor and in other stands to reduce stand density to a level that would 

not support a crown fire (stands near the rim of the Grande Ronde canyon) and other stands would be 

thinned to reduce small ladder fuels so that torching would not cause the fire to move in tree crowns. 

Treatments would tend to favor early seral tree species such as ponderosa pine and western larch. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-33 

Commercial thinning is the primary stand prescription to be used. Shelterwood and seed-tree 

prescriptions would be used in decadent stands where thinning would not restore growth or vigor. 

Silviculture Prescriptions - Same as Alternative B 

Reforestation - Approximately 175 acres would be planted and 120 acres would be prescribed for natural 

regeneration. 

Natural regeneration in lodgepole pine stands –Same as Alternative B. 

Diseased Large Tree Removal – The number of acres from which diseased trees (infected with dwarf 

mistletoe) > 21 inches DBH could be harvested is 300 (only in moist forest). This is approximately 1 

percent of the total planning area and less than 2 percent of the 25,400 acres of the planning area where 

timber harvest is scheduled. Following recommendations from the Forest Pathologist, trees that have 

moderate levels of infection (rating levels 3 and 4) would be removed. Trees with lower levels are not 

likely to be a source of a lot of infection, and trees with higher levels are likely to die before they cause a 

lot of infection. After review of field information and stand exam data gathered on the stands to be 

harvested with regeneration prescriptions (shelterwood and seed-tree prescriptions), it is estimated that 

the number of diseased trees > 21inches DBH that would need to be cut in order to avoid infecting the 

newly regenerated stands with high levels of dwarf mistletoe is between 10 and 43 trees. 

Methods of Harvest

Harvest methods would include conventional ground based, skyline, and using a harvester/forwarder. 

The following table is a summary of treatment activity and method of harvest: 

Table 2-7 Alternative C-Summary of Treatment Activity and Harvest Method 

Treatment Method 

of Harvest 

Approximate 

Acres 

Commercial Thinning 

 (HITH) Harvester/Forwarder 700 

Commercial Thinning 

(HITH) Skyline 100 

Commercial Thinning with 

Non-Commercial Thinning 

(HITH/NCT) 

Harvester/Forwarder 170 

Shelterwood or Seed-Tree Cut 

(HSSW/HSST) Ground based tractor 250 

Commercial Thinning with 

Seed-Tree Cut 

(HITH/HSST) 

Ground based tractor 50 

Shelterwood Seed Cut with 

Commercial Thinning 

(HSSW/HITH) 

Ground based tractor 30 

Total 

 

1,300 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-34 

Activity and Existing Natural Fuels Treatments

The following table is a summary of proposed fuel treatments for Alternative C. 

Table 2-8 Alternative C-Summary of Activity Fuel Treatments And Approximate Acres Treated. 

Activity Approximate Acres 

Material Removal* and mastication - 3-9 inch DBH material 230 

Material Removal* and prescribed fire– 3-9 inch DBH material 60 

Mastication or grapple pile 620 

Mastication or grapple pile and/or prescribed fire 250 

Burn piles on landings 100 

Hand pile burning in units 40 

Total 1,300 

* If economically feasible 

All other activities associated with activity and existing natural fuel treatments would be the same as 

identified for Alternative B. 

Road Management

To accomplish implementation of proposed activities approximately 50 miles of open system roads, 

approximately 30 miles of closed system roads, and 1.5 miles of seasonally open roads would be used as 

haul routes. Of the open road miles, approximately 14 miles are outside of the project planning area and 

represent haul routes to county roads. All system roads would remain the same after project 

implementation (open roads would remain opened, closed roads would continue to be closed and 

seasonally open roads would continue with that designation). Closed roads used for project activities 

would not be opened to the public. New system road construction of approximately 0.25 miles is the 

same as described for Alternative B. No temporary road construction or road decommissioning would 

occur. See Appendix C for a complete listing of roads used in each alternative. 

Road maintenance, material and water sources are the same as Alternative B. Following is a summary 

table of transportation activities for Alternative C. 

Table 2-9 Summary of Transportation Activities- Alternative C 

Activity Amount 

Maintenance: 

Standard Maintenance 80 miles 

Surface rock replacement 11 miles 

Heavy brushing 65 miles 

New Road Construction (would become a closed system road) 0.25 miles 

Gated closed system roads to be opened for project access and then reclosed 30 miles 

Rock Sources 3 

Water Sources 3 

DANGER TREE REMOVAL – Same as Alternative B, except for fewer miles of haul routes. 

LANDSCAPE PRESCRIBED FIRE (GRANDE RONDE CANYON) -This activity and all connected 

actions are the same as identified for Alternative B. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-35 

HARDWOOD RESTORATION - This activity and all connected actions are the same as identified for 

Alternative B. 

MEADOW RESTORATION - This activity and all connected actions are the same as identified for

Alternative B. 

NON-COMMERCIAL THINNING - This activity and all connected actions are the same as identified 

for Alternative B. 

FOREST PLAN AMENDMENT - Same as identified for Alternative B. 

DESIGN FEATURES AND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS – Design features and 

management requirements would be the same as identified for Alternative B. 

MONITORING FRAMEWORK - Same as identified for Alternative B. 

SALE AREA IMPROVEMENTS 

Sale area improvements (SAI) include activities which follow timber harvest and are intended to improve 

resources within the project area. They are generally funded with Knutson-Vandenberg (KV) funds, 

which are generated from the sale of timber. 

KV/SAI projects associated with implementation of Alternatives B or C are analyzed for environmental 

effects in Chapter 3 of this document. They are listed below. 

• Reforestation – Plant areas (associated with harvest) where there is insufficient seed source to 

insure reforestation by natural means. 

• Site preparation – Slash and burn to provide long-term fire resistance of reforestation sites. 

• Noxious weeds – Monitor and treat noxious weeds associated with haul routes and harvest 

units. 

• Non-commercial thinning (1,900 acres identified) 

• Hardwood restoration – Buck and pole fencing of hardwood stands, and cutting and girdling

competing conifers in some areas. In the Grande Ronde IRA, buck and pole fencing would 

occur and girdling of competing conifers would occur only in the cottonwood stand. 

• Temporary fencing of range allotment pastures – Fencing cattle out of dry meadows for one 

season for burning purposes and monitoring. 

• Native seeding – Seed native grasses and forbs in areas disturbed by activities. 

KV/SAI projects not associated with the proposed action are listed below. They are eligible for KV 

funding, if funds are available (if Alternative A – No Action is selected for implementation, there would 

be no KV funding, and implementation of these projects would be dependent on future appropriated 

funding). Environmental analysis for these projects would be completed in separate NEPA 

documentation and decisions. They are listed below: 

• Reforestation – Plant disturbed areas (not associated with harvest) where adequate natural 

regeneration is not expected. 

• Fuels treatments – Mechanically treat and or burn areas of high fuel concentrations to provide 

for long-term fire resistance in additional areas. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-36 

• Noxious weeds – Monitor and treat noxious weeds outside of activity areas but within the 

project planning area. 

• Non-commercial thinning (in addition to units identified). 

• Hardwood restoration – Fence hardwoods and cut or girdle competing conifers in additional 

areas within the project planning area. 

• Range improvements – Improve fences and water sources. 

• Native seeding – Seed native grasses and forbs in other disturbed areas.

• Roads – Install guardrails and or gates on closed roads in the area to improve closure 

effectiveness. 

• Upgrade decommissioning of FR 6222428 – decompact, pull fill, and install drainage for 

perennial spring. This road is below Cobbler II units 9 and 10, but is not planned for use 

because the slope is too steep. Road is currently identified as decommissioned. 

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED, BUT ELIMINATED FROM 

DETAILED STUDY 

The following alternatives were considered and eliminated from detailed study by the Responsible 

Official for reasons identified below: 

1. Harvest More Trees > 21 inches DBH 

One respondent suggested that based on current densities and fuel loads the goals of the project could 

not be met without the ability to cut larger trees and that a Forest Plan amendment to log trees greater 

than 21 inches DBH would be needed to improve conditions. Based on the information below this 

alternative was considered but not analyzed in detail. 

A Forest Plan amendment is not needed to cut trees 21 inches DBH and greater in stands in the moist 

upland forest potential vegetation group (PVG) because old forest stand structures are within or above 

their historical range of variability (HRV). Trees 21 inches DBH and greater that are moderately to 

severely infected with dwarf mistletoe are proposed for cutting in stands with regeneration 

prescriptions, to reduce the transmission of the disease to the future stand. Trees 21 inches DBH and 

greater are not proposed for cutting in stands with thinning prescriptions because disease transmission 

is less of a problem and the retention of a diversity of size classes is desirable. 

A Forest Plan amendment would be needed if cutting trees 21 inches DBH and greater in stands in 

dry upland forest PVG were proposed, because old forest stand structures are below HRV in old 

forest single stratum (OFSS). No trees 21 inches DBH and greater in this PVG are proposed for 

commercial harvest. 

Harvesting trees over 21 inches DBH would not be necessary to bring stands to stocking densities 

suggested in the Umatilla National Forest stocking guidelines. Trees over 21 inches DBH are 

retained to meet late old structure as described in Eastside Screens. Removing trees over 21 inches 

DBH would not meet the purpose and need of this project to move the seral and structural conditions 

of forest stands toward their HRV through increasing the amount of old forest single strata in the dry 

upland forest in the short and long-term. Additionally, fuel loads and crown density are determining 

factors of fire risk, not specific diameter limits. 

2. Implement Variable Density Thinning

One commenter supported variable density thinning. This means that thinning should be done in a 

way that creates 0.25 to 0.50 acre gaps, dense patches, lightly thinned, moderately thinned, and 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-37 

heavily thinned patches in each stand. The objective would be to maintain or increase spatial 

diversity within stands through harvest. 

There is currently considerable spatial, tree size, and species composition diversity in most of the 

stands proposed for commercial thinning, most of which were generated after natural disturbances. 

There is less diversity in most of the stands proposed for non-commercial thinning, many of which 

are the result of planting. Historically, dry forests had more large open stands, primarily of ponderosa 

pine and Douglas-fir, with grand fir to a much lesser extent than under current conditions. In both dry 

and moist forest types, small patches or openings did occur throughout the landscape through 

disturbances such as insect and disease pockets, windthrow, and mixed severity fires. In moist forest, 

low frequency, high severity disturbances could create large areas of relatively uniform density, while 

more frequent low and mixed severity disturbances promoted diversity. 

It would be possible to implement variable density thinning in the stands proposed for commercial 

and non-commercial thinning in the Cobbler II project planning area. Areas thinned to stocking 

levels below those identified in the Proposed Action would have lower crown closure and more open 

space, and areas thinned to higher stocking levels would have higher crown closure and more intertree competition than stands thinned under prescriptions currently in the Proposed Action. 

Understory shrubs, forbs and grasses would be expected to respond to the different overstory 

densities. The amount of wood products produced would be expected to be similar. Preparation of 

the stands for sale would likely be more labor intensive than marking each stand to one stocking 

level. Logging damage could be higher in the areas where heavier stocking levels were left. 

Marking guides that would be used to prepare the stands for sale under the proposed action specify a 

range of basal areas per acre (BAA) of plus or minus 20 to 40 square feet that would be left after 

harvest. The range of BAAs are an overall stand average, with some areas left with lighter stocking 

and some areas left with heavier stocking (the level of average density prescribed for each stand 

depends on its Plant Association). Specifying a range of BAAs allows for selection of desired traits 

in the leave trees and for adapting the marking to microclimates. In addition, areas of approximately 

0.1 acre would be cleared of smaller trees around ponderosa pine, western larch, and Douglas-fir trees 

that are 21 inches DBH or larger. Therefore, there would still be diversity in density after harvest 

under the proposed action. 

The analysis for an alternative that incorporated variable density thinning into the commercial and 

non-commercial thinning prescriptions would not be expected to be different from the analysis done 

in this document for the Proposed Action; the difference would be in the implementation. Based on 

this information, an alternative incorporating variable density thinning was not separately analyzed in 

detail. 

3. Harvest All At-Risk Lodgepole Pine Stands 

Interdisciplinary team members considered an alternative that would harvest all lodgepole pine stands 

rated with a high potential for mortality from mountain pine beetle. There are approximately 1,370 

acres of lodgepole pine stands with high potential for mortality from mountain pine beetle in the 

Cobbler II project planning area. Mountain pine beetle is currently active at low levels and appears to 

be increasing in the area (Spiegel and Schmitt 2008), harvesting the high risk stands in this project 

would assure that the wood would be harvested while it is sound. If the stands die from beetle attack 

and the dead trees are not harvested right away, some of the value of the wood could be lost. 

This alternative was not developed because there has already been harvesting, mostly clearcutting, of 

approximately half of the lodgepole pine stands in the headwaters of Bear Creek (known as Bear 

Flat), and where high risk stands are concentrated. The regeneration in these old units is still in the 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-38 

small diameter (3 to 6 inch DBH) stages. The remaining mature stands, even if they experience high 

mortality, are valuable for woodpeckers and other wildlife. Based on this information, this alternative 

was considered but not analyzed in detail. 

4. Use Non-Commercial Thinning Of Small Diameter Trees Rather Than Commercial 

Harvest

This type of treatment would not work in many areas needing thinning to bring stand stocking closer 

to historical levels when most stands had fewer trees per acre, a greater percentage of early seral 

species, larger average stand diameter, and less multistoried structure. The excess stocking in these 

stands includes trees over 9 inches DBH, which adds up to approximately 25 percent to 30 percent 

above the recommended stocking levels. The heavy stocking in these stands makes them more 

susceptible to environmental stresses and thus less resistant to insects and diseases. Heavy stocking 

would also cause wildfire behavior to become severe in an area where historical disturbance 

maintained vegetation that would have experienced mixed and low intensity wildfires. It would be 

harder to protect large diameter trees from mortality when a wildfire occurs. The proposed removal 

of commercial trees in the intermediate crown layer would increase the height-to-crown ratio by 

removing ladder fuels. Based on the information above, this alternative was considered but not 

analyzed in detail 

5. Treat Only Small-Diameter Fuels - This alternative was proposed by a commenter during the 

30-day review period of the May 2009 EA to treat small-diameter fuels in only ecologically 

appropriate forest locations (lower elevation ponderosa pine dominant – frequent low intensity fire 

plant association group forests) to reduce fire risk – outside of designated and uninventoried 

ecological roadless areas and higher elevation mixed fire severity mixed conifer forests (which should 

be left to nature’s time proven and scientifically recommended processes). 

Only a very small area of low elevation warm dry forest is located in the Cobbler II project planning 

area. These stands can be found near the Grande Ronde River and at the lower parts of Bear Creek 

and Elbow Creek, all of which are within the Grande Ronde inventoried roadless area. Landscape 

prescribed fire treatments are proposed for this area. Implementation of this alternative would be 

comparable to the no action alternative (Alternative A) with the exception of implementing landscape 

prescribed fire. It would meet the need of returning fire to the Grande Ronde River canyon to 

maintain the character of a frequent fire regime, particularly in grasslands and shrubs. It would not 

meet the purpose and need for improving health, vigor, and resilience to fire, insects, and disease in 

upland forests that are outside their historical pre-fire suppression conditions for species composition 

(including hardwood species), structural diversity, stocking densities, and fuel loads, or for providing 

sawlogs and wood fiber products for utilization by regional and local industry. Based on the 

information above, this alternative was considered but not analyzed in detail

6. Implement Non-Commercial Restoration Only - This alternative was proposed by a 

commenter during the 30-day review period of the May 2009 EA. It was suggested to have this 

alternative focus on the removal of small-diameter flash fuels where ecologically appropriate, the 

restoration of area soils, the removal of invasive exotic plants, the reduction and prevention of 

grazing harms, the recovery of 303(d) listed waterways, protection and recovery of salmonid 

species, ESA listed species, and species of concern habitat and populations, prevention of OHV 

harms, and the removal of unneeded roads and skid trails. Removal of small diameter flash fuels is 

discussed above (5). There is an on-going Forest program to remove invasive exotic plants, and 

reduction and prevention of grazing harms are incorporated into existing allotment management 

plans. Projects must be consistent with environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act (none of 

the streams in the Cobbler II project planning area are on the most recent water quality assessment 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-39 

and 303(d) list of impaired waters in the Grande Ronde Basin) and ESA( see Chapter 3). Road 

obliteration of unneeded roads in the area that were recommended by the transportation specialist 

has already been accomplished (approximately 75 miles in the past 12 years have been 

decommissioned). In reviewing the elements of this suggested alternative it was determined that it 

does not address the project’s purpose and need to improve health, vigor, and resilience to fire, 

insects, and disease in upland forests that are outside their historical pre-fire suppression conditions 

for species composition (including hardwood species), structural diversity, stocking densities, and 

fuel loads, nor would it provide sawlogs and wood fiber products for utilization by regional and 

local industry. Based on the information above, this alternative was considered but not analyzed in 

detail. 

7. Harvest Only Trees Less Than 16 inches DBH - Comments were received during the 45-day 

comment period for the DEIS asking for alternatives to be developed under which only trees below 

several specified DBHs (10-12 inches, 14 inches, and 16 inches), would be harvested. In response 

to these comments, an alternative was considered that would only harvest trees less than 16 inches 

DBH. Stand data indicates that in the majority of cases, post-harvest density would still be above 

the Suggested Stocking Level (SSL) for the species that is most sensitive to overstocking, which is 

often ponderosa pine, an early seral species. For other early seral species, residual density would 

be toward the upper end of the SSL. This means that the stand would grow to a stocking level 

beyond the SSL in a short time after harvest, and early seral species would again be stressed by 

overstocking. Higher densities are better growing environments for late seral tree species, which 

tend to be more susceptible to drought, fire, and insect and disease damage. The stands would not 

move toward conditions meeting the project’s purpose and need of increasing the proportion of 

species that are more resistant to those types of damage. This diameter limit also would retard the 

development of additional large diameter trees due to limited site resources (Powell 1999). 

Additionally, this upper diameter limit would curtail our ability to manipulate forest structure 

toward underrepresented structural classes such as stem exclusion closed canopy (SECC), stem 

exclusion open canopy (SEOC), and old forest single stratum (OFSS). 

An abbreviated economic analysis was completed that compared Alternative B to this alternative of 

harvesting only trees less than 16 inches DBH. The estimated total commercial timber volume in 

cubic feet would be reduced by 40 percent with this alternative as compared with Alternative B. 

Approximately 21,000 additional trees would be left in stands. There would be a large negative 

impact on local employment and potential income for the local economy. The need to provide 

sawlogs and wood fiber products for utilization by regional and local industry would be met at a 

much lesser level. The predicted value above base rates would also decline. 

Comments were also received asking for consideration of additional alternatives where only trees 

below 14 inches DBH or even 10 inches to 12 inches DBH would be harvested. Implementation of 

these alternatives would result in the project’s purpose and need being met at a lesser degree and 

the economic viability of the harvest would be very low. 

Based on the information above, this alternative was considered but not analyzed in detail. 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-40 

COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES 

The following tables compare all alternatives considered in detail by activity, purpose and need, and 

issues analyzed for environmental effects. 

Table 2-10 Summary Comparison by Alternative 

Alternative 

A 

Alternative 

B 

Alternative 

C 

Commercial Harvest

Commercial thinning 

(HITH) 0 acres 1,890 acres 800 acres 

Commercial thinning with seed-tree cut 

(HITH/HSST) 0 acres 100 acres 50 acres 

Commercial thinning with non-commercial 

thinning 

 (HITH/NCT) 

0 acres 230 acres 170 acres 

Shelterwood seed cut with commercial thinning 

(HSSW/HITH) 0 acres 30 acres 30 acres 

Shelterwood or seed-tree cut 

(HSSW/HSST) 0 acres 250 acres 250 acres 

Total 0 acres 2,500 acres 1,300 acres 

Estimated total volume of timber removed (hundred 

cubic feet (CCF)) 0 CCF 29,000 CCF 17,800 CCF 

Reforestation

Planting 0 acres 175 acres 175 acres 

Natural Regeneration 0 acres 165 acres 120 acres 

Total 0 acres 340 acres 295 acres 

Harvest Methods

Conventional ground based (tractor) 0 acres 380 acres 330 acres 

Harvester/forwarder 0 acres 1,830 acres 870 acres 

Skyline 0 acres 230 acres 100 acres 

No Yarding 0 acres 60 acres 0 acres 

Total 0 acres 2,500 acres 1,300 acres 

Activity and Natural Fuels Treatments in Harvest Units

Material removal* and mastication - 3-9 inch DBH 

material 0 acres 400 acres 230 acres 

Material removal* and prescribed fire - 3-9 inch 

DBH material 0 acres 100 acres 60 acres 

Mastication or grapple pile 0 acres 1,320 acres 610 acres 

Mastication or grapple pile and/or prescribed fire 0 acres 410 acres 250 acres 

Burn piles at landings 0 acres 230 acres 100 acres 

Hand pile burning in units 0 acres 40 acres 40 acres 

Total 0 acres 2,500 acres 1,300 acres 

Roads – Used for project activities

**Open system roads 0 miles 50 miles 50 miles 

Gated closed system roads used and then reclosed 0 miles 40 miles 30 miles 

Seasonally open roads 0 miles 1.5 miles 1.5 miles 

New road construction (will become a closed road) 0 miles 0.25 miles 0.25 miles 

Temporary road construction (decommissioned 

after use) 0 miles 0.2 miles 0 miles 

Total 0 miles 92 miles 82 miles 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-41 

Alternative 

A 

Alternative 

B 

Alternative 

C 

Landscape prescribed fire 0 acres 8,000 acres 8,000 acres 

Hardwood restoration 0 acres 115 acres 115 acres 

Meadow restoration 0 acres 275 acres 275 acres 

Non-commercial thinning 0 acres 1,900 acres 1,900 acres 

Danger tree removal along haul routes and 

around trailheads 

No Yes Yes 

Forest Plan amendment No Yes Yes 

*If economically feasible 

**Of the open roads 14 miles are outside of the project planning area and represent haul routes to county roads. 

The following table shows a comparative synopsis by alternative to purpose and need statements made in 

Chapter 1. In this table the numbers of acres in some categories overlap and are not to be considered 

additive. This is the result of more than one action occurring on the same acre. 

Table 2-11 Comparison Response to Purpose and Need by Alternative 

Purpose and Need Unit of 

Measure 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

Stands in which the 

proportion of early seral 

species is increased and stand 

density is reduced from 

overstocked to recommended 

stocking levels 

acres 0 4,040 2,900 

Late seral ingrowth reduced in 

stands currently dominated by 

early seral species 

acres 0 1,460 1,300 

Stands changed from outside 

structural class HRV to within 

HRV 

acres 0 530 255 

Diseased and damaged mixed 

conifer stands regenerated to 

young trees of primarily early 

seral species 

acres 0 255 255 

Late seral ingrowth reduced in 

stands currently dominated by 

trees >21inches DBH 

acres 0 485 0 

High risk lodgepole pine 

stands harvested acres 0 125 70 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-42 

Purpose and Need Unit of 

Measure 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

Modify the intensity and 

resulting fire behavior along 

the rim of the Grande Ronde 

and along Forest Road 62 for 

safe and effective suppression 

actions. 

acres 0 10,450 9,250 

Return fire to the Grande 

Ronde canyon to maintain the 

character of frequent fire 

regime, particularly in 

grasslands and shrubs. 

acres 0 8,000 8,000 

Reduction of ladder fuels to 

reduce the risk of fire spread 

into the upper canopy. 

acres 0 8,500 8,300 

Reduction of ground fuels that 

would contribute to wildfire 

intensity and resource 

damage. 

acres 0 10,200 9,150 

Reduce risk of personal injury 

by removing danger trees 

along trailheads and haul 

routes used for project 

activities. 

no/yes no yes yes 

Hardwood stands fenced 

and/or released from 

encroaching conifers 

acres 0 115 115 

Influence stocking levels, 

growth, health and vigor of 

plantations by implementing 

non-commercial thinning. 

acres 0 1,900 1,900 

Amend Forest Plan to allocate 

Elk Flats Meadow from 

management area D2-

Research Natural Area to 

management area A9-Special 

Interest Area, and small 

portions of management area 

E2 to A9, and D2 to E2 in 

order to allow for vegetation 

management of aspen and 

other hardwood regeneration. 

no/yes no yes yes 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-43 

Table 2-12 compares the effects to key issues and other issues identified for environmental analysis by 

alternative. 

Table 2-12 Comparison of Effects to Key Issues and Other Resource Issues by Alternative 

Resource 

Unit of 

Measure Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

ELK HABITAT (Key Issue) 

Satisfactory cover 

provided (management 

area E2) 

percent 12 10 12 

Satisfactory cover reduced 

(management area E2) acres 0 400 0 

Net reduction of total 

cover (marginal and 

satisfactory) 

acres 0 360 335 

Hiding cover reduced 

through non-commercial 

thinning (cumulative acres) 

acres 0 2,125 1,940 

Closed system roads 

opened for project activity 

use and then reclosed 

miles 0 40 30 

Forage quality and 

quantity no change 

equally improved 

(landscape burning, aspen and mountain 

mahogany enhancement) 

OLD FOREST HABITAT (Key Issue) 

Old forest multi-story 

(OFMS) changed to old 

forest single story (OFSS) acres 0 485 0 

Thinning within old forest 

connective corridors acres 0 350 225 

Large tree habitat removed 

(trees >21 inches DBH) number of trees 0 Incidental 

(estimated 10 to 50 

diseased trees) 

Incidental 

(estimated 10 to 43 

diseased trees) 

SOIL 

Total acres of detrimental 

soil condition (DSC) in 

project planning area 

acres 73 (acres in Alt B) 

39 (acres in Alt C) 

(existing condition) 

215 

(post activity) 

120 

(post activity) 

HYDROLOGY/WATER QUALITY 

Hydrologic Function and 

Condition: 

• road density increase 

• Change in miles of 

road in RHCAs 

mi./sq. mile 

miles 

0 

0 

increase of less than 

0.01 mi./sq. mi. 

(negligible) 

0 

Water Quality: 

• water temperature 

• sediment 

degrees 

increase/decrease 

no measurable effect 

no change 

no measurable effect 

no detectable increase (negligible) 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-44 

Resource 

Unit of 

Measure Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

Water Yield: 

Equivalent Treatment 

Acres (ETA) – percent by 

watershed 

percent below detectable effect below detectable effect 

FISH HABITAT – TE&S AND MIS 

Pool frequency increase/decrease no change no change 

Water chemistry 

• temperature 

• sediment 

• chemical/contaminants 

degrees 

increase/decrease 

increase/decrease 

see Hydrology section 

see Hydrology section 

no change 

see Hydrology section 

see Hydrology section 

No quantifiable increase 

Large woody debris increase/decrease no change No decrease 

Stream channel conditions 

• bank stability 

• lower bank angle 

• substrate 

increase/decrease no change no detectable change 

Change in peak or base 

flows increase/decrease no change no detectable increase 

Increase in drainage 

network increase no change no increase 

Road density and location miles/square 

mile 

no change increase of less than 

0.01 miles/square mile 

VEGETATION 

Improvement of Species Composition 

Late seral ingrowth 

reduced in stands currently 

dominated by early seral 

species 

acres 0 1,430 1,220 

Diseased and damaged 

stands regenerated to 

young trees of primarily 

early seral species. 

acres 0 255 255 

Hardwoods fenced and/or 

released from encroaching 

conifers 

acres 0 115 115 

Forest Plan amendment - 

Creation of Special Interest 

Area (A9) at Elk Flats 

Meadow to allow 

restoration of aspen. 

acres 0 100 100 

Improvement of Forest Stand Structures 

Stands changed from 

outside structural class 

HRV to within HRV 

acres 0 530 255 

Late seral ingrowth 

reduced in stands currently 

dominated by trees >21 

inches DBH 

acres 0 485 0 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-45 

Resource 

Unit of 

Measure Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

Improvement of Forest Stand Densities 

Stands in which the 

proportion of early seral 

species is increased and 

stand density is reduced 

from overstocked to 

recommended stocking 

levels 

acres 0 4,040 2,900 

Provision of Wood Products 

High at-risk lodgepole pine 

stands harvested acres 0 125 70 

FUELS – FIRE RETURN INTERVALS AND CROWN FIRE POTENTIAL 

Fire regimes of high 

departure from historical 

fire return intervals treated: 

• Condition Class 3 

• Condition Class 2 

acres 

acres 

0 

0 

750 

5,225 

665 

5,130 

Stands with crown fire 

potential treated: 

• extreme 

• very high 

• high 

acres 

acres 

acres 

0 

0 

0 

170 

770 

540 

130 

710 

270 

AIR QUALITY 

Expected total particulate 

emissions (PM2.5) per 100 

acres from natural and 

activity fuel burning 

(jackpot and pile burning) 

tons 0 23 23 

Duration and timing of 

emissions days None 

Persisting in air for no more than 

five days 

Communities potentially 

affected areas None Troy and Eden Bench areas 

Mandatory Class 1 areas 

potentially affected airsheds None None 

INVASIVE PLANTS AND PLANT TE&S SPECIES 

Invasive species mapped 

within harvest units (acres) 

and along haul routes 

(miles). 

acres 

miles 

0 

0 

200 

90 

100 

70 

Amount of ground 

disturbance anticipated 

from proposed activities. 

acres 

haul route miles 

0 

0 

2,500 

90 

1,300 

80 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-46 

Resource 

Unit of 

Measure Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

Threatened and 

Endangered Plants 

Sensitive Plants 

Biological 

Evaluation 

Determinations 

No Effect 

No Impact 

No Effect 

No Impact 

No Effect 

No Impact 

WILDLIFE - TE&S Terrestrial Species, Management Indicator Species (MIS), Landbirds and Dead Wood 

TE&S Wildlife Species 

Suitable lynx habitat 

(reduced) 

acres 

reduced 0 (-240) (-85) 

White-headed woodpecker 

habitat (increased) 

acres 

increased 0 +100 0 

Management Indicator Species 

American marten habitat 

(reduced) 

acres 

reduced 0 (-25) 0 

Pileated woodpecker 

nesting habitat 

(reduced) 

acres 

reduced 0 (-260 ) 0 

Northern tree-toed 

woodpecker habitat 

(reduced) 

acres 

reduced 0 (-200) (-150) 

All primary excavators – 

areas of potential snag 

density reduced 

(includes all harvest) 

acres 

reduced 0 (-2,500) (-1,300) 

RANGE 

Changes to permittee 

access increase/decrease no change no change no change 

Livestock distributions increase/decrease no change no change no change 

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM - ROADS 

New road 

construction (miles) miles 0 0.25 0.25 

Temporary road 

construction - miles miles 0 0.20 0 

Changes to District 

Motorized Access Travel 

Management Plan 

Yes/no no no no 

VISUALS/SCENERY 

Forest Plan Visual quality 

objective (VQO) 

meets/does not 

meet FP VQO No change meets FP VQO meets FP VQO 

WILD AND SCENIC RIVER 

Effects to outstanding and 

remarkable values 

(wildlife, fisheries, 

recreation and scenic 

values) 

Change/No 

change 

No change No change to wildlife, fisheries, recreation 

and scenic values 

Consistency with Wallowa 

and Grande Ronde Rivers 

Final Mgmt Plan EA

meets/does not 

meet 

meets meets 

RECREATION 

Recreational access 

and use 

increase/decrease No change short-term temporary disruptions 

during project activity 
Chapter 2 – Alternatives 

Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

2-47 

Resource 

Unit of 

Measure Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

Dispersed hunter campsite 

use 

increase/decrease No change short-term displacement 

(one hunting season) 

ECONOMICS 

Present net value dollars 0 ($407,200) ($232,550) 

Benefit to local and 

regional economy - local 

employment (jobs) 

jobs 0 67 36 

Sale Viability - value of 

wood fiber per hundred 

cubic feet(ccf) above base 

rates 

dollars 0 $48.00 $46.00 

WENAHA-TUCANNON WILDERNESS and CONTIGUOUS POTENTIAL WILDERNESS AREAS (PWAs)

Untrammeled, 

Undeveloped, and Natural 

Change/No 

change 

No change No change No change 

Solitude and remoteness Change/No 

change 

No change 

Short-term effects to 

sights and sounds 

during adjacent 

project activity 

Short-term effects to 

sights and sounds 

during adjacent 

project activity 

Roadless Characteristics as 

identified in 2001 RACR 

(36 CFR §294.11) 

Effects to 

resources meet 

Forest Plan 

S&Gs and other 

applicable laws 

(Yes/No) 

Yes Yes Yes 

Change in acres of 

inventoried PWAs - 

130 acres 

Change/No 

change in acres 

No change 

in acres 

No change 

in acres 

No change 

in acres 

GRANDE RONDE PWA/IRA 

Roadless Characteristics as 

identified in 2001 RACR 

(36 CFR §294.11) 

Effects to 

resources meet 

Forest Plan 

S&Gs and other 

applicable laws 

(Yes/No) 

Yes Yes Yes 

Change in acres of 

inventoried PWAs - 

7,960 acres 

Change/No 

change in acres 

No change 

 in acres 

No change 

in acres 

No change 

in acres 

OTHER UNDEVELOPED LANDS 

Physical and biological 

resources and social values 

Effects to 

resources meet 

Forest Plan 

S&Gs and other 

applicable laws 

(Yes/No) 

Yes Yes Yes 

Change in acres of other 

undeveloped lands - 

5,660 acres 

Change/No 

change in acres 

No change 

 in acres 

Change in acres 

(-635) 

Change in acres 

(-210)